History 120

Why did Barnum's Museum burn down? Who or what was responsble. As always, make sure you give evidence for your conclusions. The better your evidence, the better your case, the better your grade will be. In the introductory movie, Barnum hmself give several reasons. Are any of these convincing?

As you move through the museum you might consider these questions as well. How did Barnum's Museum depict the Civil War and the tensions that led up to it? A number of attractions directly address the Civil War: several others might be said to imply or address some of the topics, like race, or sectional coflict--that led to the war. Why was Barnum's museum popular? In this, be as specific as possible--don't just say "because it showed people things they were interested in," or "things they didn't see every day;" or "it was interesting because people had no TVs yet." Say why you think these specific things were interesting to people at this specific time. What "nerve" did they touch?

Here are some ways to think about Barnum, using one of the attractions as an example.

This hideous object is the famous "feejee mermaid." Barnum presented it in many places and settings; it was one of his best attractions. First, consider why it might be interesting to look at such an object, which is apparently two different things at the same time, and blends the world of human and animal, land and sea. Then consider how Barnum "framed" the object. As the archive shows, sometimes he advertised it using pictures of a beautiful female figure; sometimes with a more realistic woodcut. Barnum was the master of what he called "humbug." Not exactly fraud, "humbug" was something like the possibility of fraud, or hype.

Below is the label that accompanied the exhibit, which shows Barnum's typical style of writing. It's woozy, rushed and confused; it claims contradictory things; it is as hard to make sense of as the mermaid itself. Placing the cursor over various parts of the label will call up some commentary.

This says "see it now," but also Barnum is distancing himself. He has "engaged" it—he doesn't own it, and doesn't know its secrets

There is something called "the scientific world," and these experts are all discussing the mermaid

"Called" by who? By the "scientific world?" Or by Barnum? Barnum is blurring the lines here, drawing attention to his own complicity and also dodging it

Again, he distances himself while also calling attention to himself--the "owner," possibly Barnum himself, asserts this fact. Is Barnum the owner?

A very tricky passage. If something is implicit it is not stated. "Implicitly believed" means any "scientific person" who has not stated an opinion must believe. But believe what? The sentence is hopelessly unclear. Believe that the owner positively asserts to have caught it live? Believe there is controversy? Believe it is real? But it is real--a real object in a case

A typically slippery phrase, which sounds like science but makes no sense. Something either exists or it doesn't: what would an "un-natural existence" be?

Another slippery phrase. What exactly might be the difference between reality and the appearance of reality? The object is exactly what it appears to be, and Barnum won't say what that is

Here Barnum connects it to the local, familiar fish market, where everything is exactly what it seems. Or is it? A consumer must beware at all times of frauds. Is the fish fresh? Is it the kind of fish it's claimed to be? The mermaid has the same "appearance of reality as any fish." Is Barnum saying it's a fish? That you'd see something like it in the market? The text asks you to compare your experience as a market consumer to your experience in the museum

Who indeed? In the market, the buyer must beware, and must be able to judge for himself. His skill as a judge is crucial. Barnum seems to be taunting his audience's ability to judge

This odd statement challenges the viewer, saying that if it is artificial, your senses will never be able to tell. But the object of the sentence is confused--what exactly are the senses "ineffectual" at doing?

What is this label saying? Is it claiming that the mermaid is real? Or that it might be real? What is it asking the viewer to do? Why would the viewer pay to see this? Did people believe it was real?

The consider what American society was like at the time. Was it stable, tradition bound, and unchanging? Or was it being rapidly transformed by new technology, and the "market revolution?" Which world did Barnum's musuem speak to?