ARTH365

ARTH

365

Humanities (HU)

This course examines the history of animal exhibits from the early modern period to the present. Treating these scientific displays as cultural objects, we examine how historically specific philosophies in art, science, religion, and education inform the collecting practices and design choices of individuals and institutions. We consider animal enclosures, habitat dioramas, and dinosaur paintings, among other historical and contemporary examples, and use in-person class visits to local institutions to inform our study. Thinking deeply about the role of objectivity in scientific representation, we will unravel the complex social, artistic, and scientific narratives underlying our depictions of the animal world and identify how our changing needs as human beings have shaped these representations across time.