Open AccessAnthropology, Museums and the Body: Lessons From an Experimental Teaching Environment
Author(s) -
Gwyneira Isaac,
Michael A. Clark,
Kelsey Adams,
Heather Ashe,
Katie Benz,
Delaney Cummings,
David Gassett,
Francine Margolis,
Amanda Quink,
Emily Somberg
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
museum and society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1479-8360
DOI - 10.29311/mas.v17i3.3413
Subject(s) - discipline , colonialism , institution , face (sociological concept) , sociology , race (biology) , anthropology , visual arts , social science , gender studies , history , art , archaeology
With increased interests in solving complex problems through interdisciplinary research—how best can museums use this approach to address critical social issues? In order to answer this question, an interdisciplinary group of curators, artists and students worked together at the Smithsonian Institution to create an experimental teaching environment to rethink the disciplinary boundaries around the study of the human body. Our aim was to use a range of anthropological, art and science collections and readings to undertake the issues of race, gender, genetics, and disability, and the historic inequities resulting from colonialism. We discuss this endeavor, including the public program we developed—the Face Cast Lab—as well as lessons learned about who affects change through this type of museum-based teaching.