Mastodons, Mermaids, and Dioramas: Capturing Nature in the American Culture

Why did 18th-century museums stuff and mount exotic and domestic animals? How are humans and human activities exhibited in museums, and why? How has the study and staging of the natural world transferred into various kinds of artistic expression? In this course we will examine the intertwining of art, science, and ecology in the United States from the 1700s to the present day. Objects of study will include museum dioramas, scientific models, artifacts and artworks collected during scientific expeditions, and contemporary artists whose work engages ecological issues (e.g. Walton Ford, Christy Rupp, Laurel Roth Hope). 3 hrs. sem.