The Human Zoo: A Discussion Of Perception

[bcuzbcuz]

This weekend, in Oslo, Norway, I visited a re-construction of a 1914 Human Zoo.

When Norway celebrated its first centenial of nationhood, in 1914, it had, among other exhibits, a human zoo. 80 Sengalese people were shown in a series of huts. Men, women and children, were displayed, during a period of 5 months, to show to the general public, an exhibition of primitive peoples living in their natural environments. Despite the huts being built from Norwegian pine and birch, (although the roofing was in banana and palm fronds), the purpose was to show how the concept of Darwinian socialism had lead to human development form ape to modern man.

A short film clip can be seen at "Eventyret på Frogner". At about 4minutes 50 seconds, 4:50, on Youtube, from the actual exhibit, you can see visitor impressions from the exhibit. The speaker is Norwegian but he talks about how many peole visited the Congolese exhibit and their excitement at seeing these peoples from darkest Africa. Roughly 1.4 million visitors saw the exhibit, at a time when Norways population was roughly 2 million.

The current exhibit, by artists Mohammed Fadlabi and Lars Cuzner, re-creates the atmosphere and exhibittion grounds of the 1914 fair. The entrance and village setting are accurate re-productions of the 1914 exhibit. The villagers are volunteers from around the world who have agreed to a rigorous examination and preparation. The exhibit has brought down a storm of protests decrying racism and stereotyping. At the same time it awakens an equally strong protest about Norwegian current policy standards for immigrant workers and peoples, from poorer European nations, who willingly fulfill Norwegian positions of "low esteem", such as service industries, cleaning and garbage.

The artists hope to enliven a discussion about how concepts of racial superiority from the early 1900's form current opinions about place and role in society of modern societies.

Mormon policy, from the 1800's, has defined the parameters of social acceptance for positions of power and priesthood up until the modern declaration in the 1970's. How much did early concepts of development, civilization and humanity form current Mormon policy?

European society defined culture as developing from Greek society. Humanity started with the scriptural defintion of Adam and Eve. Apes may have advanced to human form in ancient Africa, but the real step to humanity arose from the defintion of "man" from scripture.

Are we still in the muddle of "human zoos" from the 1900's, that define man as the more advanced civility of culture? Modern man is a step apart from the primitive creatures of the African plains and jungle? Modern man is DNA related but distinctly different from the primitive forefathers from the Congo of former times? Was the exhibit from the Human Zoo, in Norway, culturally unacceptable, but basically right?

Edited May 17, 2014 by bcuzbcuz

[Calm]

You got cut off, I want to read the ending as this is interesting.

[Mola Ram Suda Ram]

You got cut off, I want to read the ending as this is interesting.

Why does a duck

[Calm]

Why does a duck

[CA Steve]

Maybe this is a thread where everyone gets to finish the OP themselves.

 

 

...the purpose was to show how the concept of Darwinian didn't apply to hut building. Unfortunately no one grasped the concept and the exhibit was shut down shortly.

[bcuzbcuz]

Why does a duck

I'm sorry, I don't understand your comment.

[bcuzbcuz]

Maybe this is a thread where everyone gets to finish the OP themselves.

 

 

...the purpose was to show how the concept of Darwinian didn't apply to hut building. Unfortunately no one grasped the concept and the exhibit was shut down shortly.

But the exhibit lasted for 5 months. No short amount of time, if you understand the length and curious variation of Norwegian summers. Living in scant clothing and thatched roofs during the summer and fall of Norway would be a challenge for any modern day adverturer,, let alone anyone from a warmer clime. My wife said (yesterday) (since she comes from Chilé), how can anybody survive in this climate?

[volgadon]

But the exhibit lasted for 5 months. No short amount of time, if you understand the length and curious variation of Norwegian summers. Living in scant clothing and thatched roofs during the summer and fall of Norway would be a challenge for any modern day adverturer,, let alone anyone from a warmer clime. My wife said (yesterday) (since she comes from Chilé), how can anybody survive in this climate?

 

He was joking.

[Calm]

For a moment I thought we were going to get another version of the three word story with a pick your ending thread...but alas whether lack of sleep or lack of wit I could not come up with a second version for the ending and by the time I revisited the thread, the real ending was edited in and it seemed inappropriate.

Mola's comment was a much shorter version of a story without an ending...

Edited May 17, 2014 by calmoriah

[thesometimesaint]

Here's how.

http://gawker.com/scarily-smart-ape-makes-fire-toasts-marshmallows-1565430457

[mfbukowski]

Was the exhibit from the Human Zoo, in Norway, culturally unacceptable, but basically right?

By what standard?  This thread is very confusing.

 

Some artists did this to make a point, and everybody got mad- that much I got.  That WAS their point- art is about making people think.  Cultural conventions define was is right and wrong in most societies. 

 

I live in Los Angeles- it is a city full of people who once lived in grass huts- literally- who now drive Mercedes and make twice as much money as I do.  They come from all over the world, Africans, South Americans, Central Americans, East Indians- people from the very poorest countries in the world.

 

I sometimes go for walks in a neighborhood near mine which is far nicer than my particular neighborhood, though it is within walking distance. Many of the fancy houses have pickup trucks for lawn services parked in the driveways.  Trust me- they are not there to do lawns at midnight, when I take my walks- they LIVE there.  They are gardeners and do other people's lawns during the day.

 

 

Modern man is DNA related but distinctly different from the primitive forefathers from the Congo of former times

Not where I live. By the world's standards, Mr Educated White Male Conservative financial guy (me) is more primitive than they are.  They have nicer houses and drive better cars.

 

I find this pretty racist actually.

[mfbukowski]

Ever called for computer support and got to talk to a primitive person from elsewhere in the world, who showed you how to fix your computer?

[mfbukowski]

You got cut off, I want to read the ending as this is interesting.

Something's happening here

What it is, ain't exactly clear...

 

Think it's time we stopped, children,

What's that sound?

Everybody look-

What's going down??  

[mfbukowski]

The job of art is to stir the waters.

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-history/introduction-to-art-history/art-history-introduction/v/why-look-at-art

 

Better shut up now.  If I get talking about art there goes the thread    I have two obsessions- philosophy and art.  Don't get me started on the other one. 

[strappinglad]

Oh please, mfb, I need your expert opinion on this ' masterpiece' . Indulge me just this once.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voice_of_Fire

[mfbukowski]

Oh please, mfb, I need your expert opinion on this ' masterpiece' . Indulge me just this once.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voice_of_Fire

    Expert opinion indeed!  I used to be in the gallery business and lost my shirt on contemporary art- that's why gardeners have bigger houses than mine. 

 

Of course being a total tightwad is a contributing factor....  How much do you really need anyway?

 

I love Newman.

 

The color tensions really make it pop- the strong out of size verticals pop it off the "walls" and it must have been a very strong counterpoint to the hemispherical dome in which it was installed.  You look at the center of that piece and it really pulls you in.  I would really like to see the original colors- I am sure it pops more than any picture can show.

 

Best of all, people are obviously still talking about it.

 

Art creates new worlds and this one worked, I am sure, in its original installation, to create an interesting visual environment and it obviously worked VERY well in creating a world of controversy and discussion about what art is.

 

I probably should talk more about art here actually because it is so linked to contemporary philosophy and actually Mormonism.  We are on earth to learn how to create our own worlds, and we do that by creating our own interpretations of theology, science and everything else.   THAT idea is what resounds in all three areas- Mormonism, philosophy and art.

 

Really every one of us is an artist, cobbling together our own little masterpieces so that make perfect sense to us.

 

But really 1.8 is kind of a bargain for a Newman, especially one which created such a fuss.  Its very notoriety significantly increases its fame and therefore value to collectors.

 

How's that??

[Stargazer]

Ever called for computer support and got to talk to a primitive person from elsewhere in the world, who showed you how to fix your computer?

 

Yes, but what I got was someone following a script who clearly didn't understand what he was telling me to do, and who was hard to understand on top of everything else.

[Stargazer]

Ever called for computer support and got to talk to a primitive person from elsewhere in the world, who showed you how to fix your computer?

 

On the other hand, let me quote from my blog entry of June 8, 2011, in which I describe some things that Scott Hanselman reported, who gave the keynote at the 2011 Portand Area Code Camp, in which he described an experience while he visited his wife's family in Africa:

 

 

While on a trip with his family to Africa a few years ago (his wife is from there), they were driving between Nairobi and some podunk town I don’t remember the name of, and there was seemingly nothing between them except trackless wilderness.  They started having trouble with the Landrover vehicle, namely one of the brakes locked up and they were having to drive it with the brake on one wheel smoking away.  Scott said someone in the car suggested they stop and pour water on the brake to cool it — which he thought if they did it would shatter the brake and possibly make things worse.  He started to think that they were in serious trouble, possibly mortal trouble!  As he was having this thought he saw ahead of them a Masai warrior standing by the track, in full Masai traditional dress.  He thought that maybe they could stop and ask the fellow where there might be some help for their vehicle.  As they neared him, Scott said the Masai gentleman wasn’t paying any attention to them, his focus was entirely on the cell phone in his hands, busy texting!  Here out in the middle freaking nowhere there was this Masai warrior wearing centuries old traditional dress, texting manically away on a 21st century electronic device!  Scott said he pulled out his cellphone and to his surprise found that there were a full five bars!  More than could commonly be counted on in Portland.  So, he relaxed knowing that he would be able to summon help if the vehicle did break down.

[katherine the great]

On the other hand, let me quote from my blog entry of June 8, 2011, in which I describe some things that Scott Hanselman reported, who gave the keynote at the 2011 Portand Area Code Camp, in which he described an experience while he visited his wife's family in Africa:

Haha! Great story!