Museums and humility

Since the museums are now open in Tallinn, the LWW and I have spent a fair amount of time in a number of them over the past couple days.

The most interesting exhibit, I thought, was at the city museum in Old Town that we visited this afternoon.

It doesn't look like much. About the size of a trophy case, each shelf of this display was devoted to the excavated remnants of a single century in Tallinn - starting in about the 13th century, if I remember.

These are some examples of the primitive materials used in centuries gone by - bones and pottery and crude metals.

But what gave this display its genius were the top two shelves - devoted to the detritus of the 20th and 21st centuries...

Yup, ketchup bottles, beer cans, margarine tubs, and finger nail polish brushes - those primitive remains that our descendents will wonder about in the coming centuries.

There is a pharmacy museum here that has exhibits of jellied leeches, dried dog feces and other miracle cures and health additives of the 14th century. Will there be a similar display of Maloxx, Viagra, and Ibuprofen in a couple hundred years?

I have always been fascinated by portraits, as well. Would either of these 18-19th century characters look out of place on today's streets?

or

Intelligence, vanity, and individuality all seem to have been with us a very long time.

A good museum ought to remind us that perhaps we're not so advanced after all. That even if we think we are oh-so modern in our perceptions and attitudes and understandings, the human race has still a very great deal to learn. And perhaps always will.

Of course some commentators, like this Finnish pop artist of the 60s, take a less subtle approach to portraiture...

Comments

[Jacquie Henry]

The gentleman in the portrait reminds me of Robert DeNiro. And back in the extravagant days of the 1980s - my daughter had a prom dress that was as dead ringer for the dress being worn by this demure young lady. Those prom pictures are always good for a family laugh.

[Mary]

The last picture reminds me of "Animal Farm" by George Orwell. You get to the most interesting places, Doug! I'm glad you include us on your journeys.

[Doug Johnson]

Hi Jacquie,

I thought the 3-day growth of whiskers (for the portrait) looks so much like the scruffy fashion of today that I had to choose that portrait. And pictures from the 70s and 80s are also good for laughs about hairstyles! I wonder if we will be laughing at our looks today in 2030?

Doug

Hi Mary,

I am very lucky to get to go to such places. I DO try to take full advantage of the sites while I am there. I am amazed by people who travel from hotel room to hotel room and never see anything else!

I did love the yellow pigs!

Doug