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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