Monday, March 30, 2009

Field Notes - AMNH



Akeley Hall of African Mammals

Panoptic design. 6 Elephants central to exhibition, flanked by lesser mammals.

28 dioramas in total - vast range of animals from the bongo and mandrill of the dense rain forests to the impala and elephant of the savannah

Animals are lifelike, yet dead 0 vistas of African wildlife in natural settings surround the pachyderms

Temporality an issue - are the animals alive today

Displays listed by region and species

Water Hole - family units displayed: mother, father, child or couples

Brass detailing of animals above displays

Hall of African Peoples

The Hall of African Peoples explore diversity of cultures in Africa. Again, issues with time and space. Why is hall organized the way it is organized? Are these cultures present of past?

On displays are masks, musical instruments, farming tools, religious idols, ceremonial costumes, ect

Dioramas depict a variety of scenes, from the Berbers to the Mbuti pygmies (also featured are the Yoruba, Pokot, and Bira peoples) 

The hall is divided into geographical areas: grasslands , deserts, woodlands and tropical rain forests 

Gardner D. Stout Hall of Asian Peoples 

Largest cultural hall in the Museum

The hall explores topic as prehistoric Eurasia and the rise of civilization, early Asian cultures, and Asian trade

Diverse regions: Korea, China, India, Armenia, and Siberia

Focused on religions such as Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Confusianism



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