Wednesday, October 24, 2012

@@@@@questions MEN######


1-       It is true that the Tradescant collection was open to the public and did not require to be of a certain class or sex. Although, the Tradescant collection did charge admission similarly did the London zoo after cutting its exclusive attendance. It is through capitalism that the museum and zoo shift in education. From the privilege of blood to the acquiring bullion the museum transforms.

2-       During the age of discovery, souvenirs played a significant roll in proof.  With voyages traveling around the world the understanding of diversity was at a minimal. With many of these voyages subsidized by royalty. It was a multi faceted decision to bring biology and objects back to investors. Wunderkammer in ways was a status symbol, much like private menageries. However Wunderkammer could be seen as a visual thought posses. Within the Tradescant collection there are two objects that speak to this idea, a mermaids hand and a cup of an E. Indian alcedo, which is a kind of unicorn. It is my confusion about both what a unicorn and a mermaid are that leads me to think that a similar confusion and hunger for clarification was present in the same or other objects.  From the desire to clarify the collection gains incentive and the propos of collecting and understanding objects in relation to one an other begins.

Much like Aristotle’s classifications the initial connections between objects in Wunderkammer seem more poetic and ill informed by today’s standards. However it needs to be recognized as a propos, essential, instead of ignorant.
In mark Dion’s work scientific relation of object is often substituted for metaphor or cultural contextual symbolism. Witch in turn is seems to be present in the Tradescant collection. Speaking to issues of classification and playing with association Dion is harnessing the very component of Wunderkammer that lacks in present biological displays.

3-       To simplify, there is great potential in observing diversity through morphology, geography and climate, etcetera… it is through the archive that these diversities are stored and through the museum that these archives are possible.  With the capacity to address a broad range of issues the museum serves as a tool for conversation and thought devilment, via its collections and research.

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