Tensions in Knowledge Production: Visual-Material Models of Human Evolution in Museums

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session 2
  In Roundtable Session: Disquieting Materialities: Foucault and Contemporary Theories in Education (Table 2)

Abstract

Museums today play an important role as a space for learning about science and the world. For this paper, visual-material models in natural history museums are explored as an example of the production of knowledge on human evolution. Empirical materials on exhibitions of human evolution were collected from visits to 25 natural history museums. The empirical materials are analyzed using the posthuman approach, with a focus on visual-material tree-models and fluid models, drawing on Annemarie Mol’s work on tensions. The paper discusses how different versions of human evolution are enacted through visual-material models distributed between different museum sites.

Author

• Simon Ceder, Konstfack - University of Arts, Crafts and Design