Is the use of human bones art?

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Is the use of human bones art?

Post by Philosophy Explorer »

To play the drums with or some other instrument or even on themselves? I wonder if it'd make a difference musically to use other mammal bones? So what say you to this? Can you make music with the bones? Do you need to specify that in the will?

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Re: Is the use of human bones art?

Post by Sy Borg »

lol - this is one of your weirder ones, Phil. The answer is "of course" but the ethics behind it is another matter. I play drums and I'd rather use sticks, brushes and mallets than pieces of dead animal.

Still, if anyone wishes to play music with my bones after I'm dead, they are more than welcome. It's about I made myself useful.
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated—Gandhi.
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Re: Is the use of human bones art?

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Greta wrote:lol - this is one of your weirder ones, Phil. The answer is "of course" but the ethics behind it is another matter. I play drums and I'd rather use sticks, brushes and mallets than pieces of dead animal.

Still, if anyone wishes to play music with my bones after I'm dead, they are more than welcome. It's about I made myself useful.
I think there's a Disney cartoon that shows this.

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Re: Is the use of human bones art?

Post by Sy Borg »

I think this would be the one - a beautiful B&W work of art https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h03QBNVwX8Q.

Another example of bone art is the bone cathedral in Prague outsideprague.com/kutna_hora/bone_churc ... hurch.html

Meanwhile, early flutes were made from bone, at a time when there was probably no ethical concerns:

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Re: Is the use of human bones art?

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Is the use of Human bones art?

If they are used in an artful way the yes of course. Art is not derives from the material used.

Can you make music with the bones?

Yes, of course. It has been shown to be the case.

Do you need to specify that in the will?

What do the dead care about the use of their bones?
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Re: Is the use of human bones art?

Post by Philosophy Explorer »

Spiral Out wrote:

"Do you need to specify that in the will?

What do the dead care about the use of their bones?"

That's not responsive to the question. I believe the law permits it, but that's not my expertise. Since we own our bodies, then we should be able to decree how we dispose of our bones, whether for art purposes or science or any other suitable purpose.

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Re: Is the use of human bones art?

Post by Spiral Out »

Philosophy Explorer wrote:Since we own our bodies, then we should be able to decree how we dispose of our bones, whether for art purposes or science or any other suitable purpose.
We only supposedly own our bodies while we are alive, and then only if we have the conscious capacity to defend it. The dead have no say in the use of their body. This comes down to the concept of ownership.

Since you had asked the question of "Do you need to specify that in the will?" then it indicates the moral aspect of the initial question of the artful use of bones. Is art in itself a moral undertaking?

Is it artful to waste the useful nature of bones?
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Re: Is the use of human bones art?

Post by Philosophy Explorer »

Spiral Out asks:

"Is art in itself a moral undertaking?

Is it artful to waste the useful nature of bones?"

These red herrings are suitable questions for another thread(s)

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Re: Is the use of human bones art?

Post by Spiral Out »

Philosophy Explorer wrote:Do you need to specify that in the will?
What is the nature and relevance of this question as it relates to the basis of the topic? Why did you include this question in the topic?
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Re: Is the use of human bones art?

Post by Philosophy Explorer »

Spiral Out wrote:
Philosophy Explorer wrote:Do you need to specify that in the will?
What is the nature and relevance of this question as it relates to the basis of the topic? Why did you include this question in the topic?
First the relevant parts of my OP as it pertains to your question:

"Can you make music with the bones? Do you need to specify that in the will?"

Those two sentences go together. Music is often regarded as part of art (that's why they refer to musicians and performers as artists).

That takes care of your first question. In regards to the second question, it's normal to bury human remains, right? So how would you legally get ahold of human bones to (hopefully) make music with? I figure the easiest way is through a will. That takes care of your second question.

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Re: Is the use of human bones art?

Post by Misty »

Philosophy Explorer wrote:To play the drums with or some other instrument or even on themselves? I wonder if it'd make a difference musically to use other mammal bones? So what say you to this? Can you make music with the bones? Do you need to specify that in the will?

PhilX

I went to 'The Human Body' museum in Philadelphia and real bodies are used to show all systems of the human body. It is art and informative. People donate their bodies for this purpose, just as people donate their bodies for medical research. It is a wonderful museum and I learned much and enjoyed it immensely. I thank those who donated their bodies for this museum.

Ancient bones are used without the consent of the human who owned the bones. Animal bones have always been used and they do not give their consent, sometimes losing their lives solely for the purpose to take their body parts for various reasons. I believe it is cat intestines that are used for guitar strings?

I assume that all mammal bones would give different tones to music. (if tones is the right word) Yes, music can be made with bones and most anything else.

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Re: Is the use of human bones art?

Post by Ruskin »

It's how they used to do it make in the stone age or whatever so yes. Also ivory carving is art using bone bone just being the material used.
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Re: Is the use of human bones art?

Post by 3uGH7D4MLj »

Philosophy Explorer wrote:Spiral Out asks:

"Is art in itself a moral undertaking?

Is it artful to waste the useful nature of bones?"

These red herrings are suitable questions for another thread(s)
On the contrary! I think "Is it artful to waste the useful nature of bones?" is an economical and pertinent reversal of the topic. Kudos.
fair to say
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