How Natural History Museums Fell From Grace, And Why They Shouldn't Have Or, Defending Museuns During the Age of Hypersensitivity

Author (Your Name)

Vanessa L. Verri, Colby College

Date of Award

2004

Document Type

Honors Thesis (Colby Access Only)

Department

Colby College. Anthropology Dept.

Advisor(s)

(unknown)

Abstract

Throughout my education in anthropology I have been told that museum representations of indigenous populations are superficial, inaccurate portrayals that threaten the identity and future of native peoples. Racist stereotypes are perpetuated through museum displays, and they need to be stopped. It had been ingrained so deeply within my anthropological mindset that museum representations were inaccurate and unfair due to their antiquated nature. Indeed, display cases at some museums dated from the 1960s and 70s, and material culture exhibits, in many instances, were most definitely old. The styles, techniques and artifacts found at most large-scale natural history museums dated back to the earlier part of the twentieth century.

Comments

Full-text download restricted to Colby College campus only.

Keywords

museum displays, natural history museums, stereotypes

Recommended Citation

Verri, Vanessa L., "How Natural History Museums Fell From Grace, And Why They Shouldn't Have Or, Defending Museuns During the Age of Hypersensitivity" (2004). Honors Theses. Paper 450.
https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/honorstheses/450

Copyright

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