Response KC

1. In Cabinets to Museum the Tradescant collection is discussed. Why is it so significant in terms of who was allowed to view it? It was known by its owner as the “ark” – interestingly zoo as also often described is “arks.” Why would there be this parallel? -This collection was the first collection to be considered a museum of sorts, and open to the public. With other ones similar to the Tradescant collection, it was only for the privileged and people close to the owners. The Tradescant was available to mostly anyone, since there was a fee. This sort of started the idea that collections should be accessible to as many people as possible for educational purposes, not just for bragging rights. It was considered an “ark”, because of its extensive collection and archiving of historic objects, with the intention of maintaining it for the future. They also were meticulous in their classifications of the objects. For a typical collection in those days, objects would be classified by nature specimens (naturalia), and man made (artificialia). While Tradescant still used these categories, objects were further sub-categorized under both categories, more loosely when under artificialia. Also, all data was equal, regardless of scientific accuracy, which means religious, folklore, and imaginary were also classified to further the encyclopedic wholeness of the collection. There is a parallel between this and zoo’s because they both are accessible to the public, and the intent is to educate for the betterment of the future of objects/specimens represented in the collection/zoo. 2. What is the primary purpose of a Wunderkammer as described in the readings? Is it simply to collect odd things like a souvenir case of circus show, or something more? Explain in some conceptual detail. In your explanation reference the Dawn of Zoology readings about early natural historians such as Aristotle and Pliny the Elder that you read about tat the very beginning of the semester. - -As I mentioned before, the purpose of Wunderkammer was to educate a wider variety of people, other than just the upper class and close acquaintances. The collection gave many people the opportunity to see artifacts and objects and specimens they would otherwise never be able to see, since international travel was a feat only reached by explorers and traders in the 1600’s. It gave people an opportunity to see physical proof of other cultures and animals they would otherwise never even know about. Wunderkammer made people start thinking on a larger scale before mass travel was even possible. 3. How are Mark Dion’s cabinets of curiosities similar to the Tradescant one? And how is it perhaps also very different both materially and conceptually? Discuss. --The cabinets of Mark Dion and the Tradescant are similar in the way that they both serve as a real encyclopedia. They both serve as an educational tool for the public, and preserving and displaying the objects. This is extremely important in the way that it is a basis for scientific research and exploration, especially in the time of Wunderkammer, when science was still attempting to flourish outside of and away from the church. They are different, however, based on the Tradescant one acting as more of a spectacle, where as the Mark Dion is for objects of the world, and geared toward the observational, and specimen, regardless of it’s impressive qualities. Despite it educational nature, the Tradescant one was still showy and flashy and veered toward spectacle objects. Basically, whatever was more aesthetically pleasing was the goal of the Tradescant collection. Mark Dion collection strives to collect historical artifacts as clues and puzzle pieces to a greater whole. 4. The essay Why Museums? makes the general case for the importance of museum-based natural histroy today. How does the organization, rationale, and functionality of the museum as they describe it differ from the wunderkammer of the past? Out of the various examples they discuss regarding the practical scientific use of museums pick one or two you thought as most interesting or surprising and describe why they caught your attention. --The Wunderkammers were very much based on the showing off and treating worldly artifacts as collectables. These objects turned into social status trophies. The more and cooler things one had, the better. Natural History museums today are a place for research development and a large-scale encyclopedia of history in nature. These are extremely crucial for furthering scientific exploration. Museums make it possible for scientists (etc.) to examine as many things as possible without having to go into the wild and capture a subject for research, unless live animals/specimens are necessary for research. While there are informative and fun displays for the public, and regular rotating exhibits, most of the museum is off limits to the public. These “time capsules” of sorts are a necessary part of society and development, since understanding the past furthers our understanding of the future. The Hantavirus outbreak in 1993 is really interesting to me, because of how important saving every detail possible can be. Every little thing can be connected, no matter how obscure it seems. The disease was spread mostly because of deer mice in the Southwest. 70 percent of the effected people died. The outbreak was originally blamed on military weapon testing near the area in New Mexico. At one point it was discovered that some deer mice had Hantavirus, and because of the specimens of this type of mouse at local natural history museums, they were able to make a connection between the disease and the mouse. The mouse species has lived with this disease since ancient times. A strain that could be passed to humans was spread after El Nino in water, and spread on the fast track to humans. Luckily the mice were documented well and specimens were saved in order for future research to be possible.