Smithsonian

Smithsonian.com

A model in a shock wig rides a dilapidated sauropod surrounded by icicle lights, while a sad, roughshod theropod threatens to chomp down on a poor mannequin next door.

Damon Dahlen

Staff Photographer at AOL

Colin McGinn

Author, Philosophy Professor

What seems to provoke disgust is the co-presence of death with pulsing life: the corpse being consumed by bacteria and worms, living things turned to dead pulp in digestion, bleeding wounds, scurrying rats in graveyards.