MUSM3120: Module 5 Carl Akeley by Heidi Lung, Ph. D. https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5 After reviewing the content posted in this module about Carl Akeley consider these questions. What do you think AKELEY should be most remembered for? What do you see as his greatest accomplishment? What surprised you as you learned about AKELEY's life and accomplishments? en-us 2017-07-31 16:53:58 UTC 2020-09-30 18:29:59 UTC hello@padlet.com Hannah Haack https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/774382924 Although Akeley was also a sculptor and inventor, I believe his lasting impact will be in the field of taxonomy. He developed far superior methods than his predecessors, and made exhibits that can still be displayed today because they were of such high quality. 

Although his taxonomy skills were a huge benefit to the museums he worked for, I think that his greatest accomplishment is the work he did for gorillas in Africa. Seeing a stuffed gorilla may be cool, but Akeley realized that living gorillas would be much more beautiful and important to the world, and therefore worked to protect them. Convincing a monarch would have been no easy feat either, especially given the atrocities that the Belgian monarchy allowed to happen to humans in the same century.

The thing that surprised me most was the story of him strangling the leopard with his bare hands. That is a pretty crazy story, if it is actually true! I was also surprised that he was such an accomplished inventor, given that he already had a sound career and legacy to leave behind in taxidermy. ]]> 2020-09-24 02:25:14 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/774382924 Rebecca Weaver https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/776491160 Akeley was known for multiple talents, however his contributions to Taxidermy is what he is and should be most remembered for. His devotion and artistic abilities in this field has greatly influenced many new taxidermists and can be seen in Museums today.
 His greatest accomplishment, in my opinion, would have to be his works at the field museum (some of my favorites). These exhibitions are still there today.
 I was surprised to learn that he invented the the Motion Picture camera, all for his love of taxidermy and the natural environment.]]> 2020-09-24 16:16:21 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/776491160 Pearl Tyler https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/779282403 In my option I think Carl Akeley should be most remember for his contribution to conservation and innovation for capturing wildlife while in its natural environment and as for his greatest accomplishment I would say that was when he convinced the King of Belgium to create a nature preserve for the mountain gorillas. 
When reading his bio I was surprised to learn that a man who studied and became know as the father of modern taxidermy was really more focused on the preservation of the animals he studied. I found too that his invention of the Akeley recorder was his way to study a species without really interfering with their everyday life. Its like today with nature photographers who use their cameras to capture wildlife while still being unobtrusive to the animals they are studying Carl Akeley was the doing this in the same manner with this invention. ]]> 2020-09-25 14:05:22 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/779282403 Bowman https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/780491826      I believe Akeley's greatest accomplishment was establishing the first wildlife sanctuary in Africa in order to save the mountain gorillas from extinction. The results of saving that species, along with drawing attention to conservation of African animals and animals around the world at a time when big game hunting was such a popular hobby, will have far reaching effects on our planet for many years to come.
     Akeley will perhaps be remembered most for the way he helped move taxidermy and museum display forward. He brought wild animals to life for people who had never been able to observe them in their natural habitat through dioramas, showing the masses parts of the earth they would probably never travel to, while also bringing a new awareness to many that these animals needed protection.
     The story that struck me about Carl Akeley was when he encountered the mountain gorillas in 1921 and after killing one felt like a "murderer" for doing so. The fact that a person who had been involved in big game hunting for many years could change his feelings after one face-to-face experience with a closely related primate was fascinating.

]]> 2020-09-25 19:00:19 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/780491826 Verplaetse https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/780898897 I think Carl Akeley should be most remembered for being THE pioneer in taxidermy. The fact that he took the time to construct his projects into life like animals really brought about a new age of education and propelled a whole new industry. I believe his work was very important because people could see his taxidermized animals and be up close and personal with animals in the wild that would normally kill you. Also the educational factor was good because it got more people interested in natural sciences.
What surprised me most was actually the story about him being attacked by the Jaguar in Africa because I had seen the picture and read the story before, but I didn't know it was connected to such an influential man. It was quite surprising to me to find that he was so many things more than just the father of taxidermy, but he also was a pioneering naturalist and conservationist. ]]> 2020-09-25 22:54:28 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/780898897 Trendel https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/781525417 The accomplishment of Carl Akeley that surprised me the most was his invention of the "Akeley" film camera.  As I watched the videos and read the materials, his passion and talent for taxidermy and creating lifelike displays was most apparent. Then, almost as a sidebar in the "Brain Scoop" video, his talent as an inventor by creating his own motion picture film camera really struck me by surprise.  As a Film and TV student I remembered having to watch the early documentary of "Nanook of the North" and knowing that the director Robert J. Flaherty used Akeley's camera was very interesting to me.  Although Wikipedia credits a Bell & Howell film camera for the movie, I have found other articles that support the use of the Akeley camera. Akeley's other talent with sculpture also surprised and impressed me.  Truly, Akeley was a "Renaissance Man".]]> 2020-09-26 16:47:54 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/781525417 Knopp, Claudia justclaudia52 https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/782709343 Well, I guess we owe a debt of gratitude to Akeley for his work in the field of taxidermy and in the creation of dioramas to really enhance the understanding of his specimens - their way of life, and how they might really have looked when they were alive. But his greatest accomplishment, in my opinion, was the invention of the camera that captured movement. I was really surprised that is was this camera that was used in the filming of Nanook of the North, a movie that I consider to be foundational in my personal understanding of indigenous peoples in the Arctic region. ]]> 2020-09-27 20:05:20 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/782709343 Katharine Cummings katharinecummings https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/783098581 I think Carl Akeley should be most remembered for his creation of the motion picture camera, because it made possible to record his research, which is significant, but it also basically helped spearhead Hollywood. But, I feel his greatest accomplishments lie in his taxidermy work, which was fascinating to learn about. I'd watched a few BrainScoop videos on Taxidermy before, but I'd never really heard of Akeley until now, so it's really interesting to learn about one of the key figures of taxidermy as an art and aid in animal studies.]]> 2020-09-28 02:10:15 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/783098581 Martineau, Julie juliemartineau https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/785764958 I think that Carl Akeley should be most remembered for his contribution to wildlife conservation. He convinced the king of Belgium to create a sanctuary for them, the first in the world. 
He should also be remembered for his work with movie cameras, and taxidermy. He was multitalented, and truly an artist! He took the time to taxidermy his subjects into realistic poses, which helped people to understand whildlife, and to expose people to creatures that they might otherwise never see. 
I personally had no idea that he had been involved in the Nanook film.... ]]> 2020-09-28 19:46:50 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/785764958 Joe Elmore https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/785958099 I think that Carl Akeley should most be remembered for his iconic taxidermy. Especially his idea that the mounts look as realistic as possible within a scene that looks like their native habitat.  I think this was a huge idea that changed the way people see animal exhibits in museums.  Many will never see these animals in life so being able to see them as you may if you could travel to their native land is a big deal.  The biggest surprise I learned about Akeley was how multi talented he was.  The invention of shotcrete and the movie camera seem so different from what he is known for, but in reality he invented them to help with the job he was trying to do.  ]]> 2020-09-28 21:03:09 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/785958099 Shores, Ashlyn A_Cierra https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/786372248 There are many things that Akeley could be remembered for, from his museum work to his inventions. He changed not only his field, but others as well. Ultimately, however, his taxidermy work is what he should most be remembered for. We are shown in the video ‘Carl Akeley's Four Seasons’ by BrainScoop what early taxidermy looked like and it is truly a horrifying image, but Akeley didn’t just want to preserve the animals, he wanted to give them new life. He worked to build skeletons and muscles for the skins to cover, to create something that accurately represented what the animals had once looked like. He paid attention to every detail of the animal, from the way they moved to the way they would have looked in different settings. He turned taxidermy into an art form, one used for the betterment of the animals he studied. He did more than taxidermy the animals, he fought to show them to the world in a way that would teach and protect them in the long run. He may have influenced a number of other fields, but he revolutionized the one he loved and that is an accomplishment few, in any field, can claim, and so, to me, that is his greatest accomplishment.

Now, I will admit that I have never been a fan of taxidermy, it goes against my core belief system, but I was surprised to learn how much of his life Akeley devoted to helping sustain the animals he studied. It was mentioned more than once the work he put into protecting the various species he studied, be it the pelicans or gorillas, and that was something I was pleased to hear. It is clear that Akeley truly did what he did for the pursuit of knowledge and to better the world, and so while I do not agree with his field, I respect his approach.
]]> 2020-09-29 01:23:21 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/786372248 Madison Mueller https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/786562072 I think that Akeley should be most remembered for the all the hours he spent shaping the taxidermy field.  He spent a lot of nights figuring out the best techniques and discovering new ways to showcase the animals in the exhibits.  Akeley accomplished a lot in his lifetime, but I think his greatest is how much he changed the taxidermy field and improved it.  I was surprised by how many things he did and created in order to improve his skills.  I was also surprised with how he didn’t like his employers and the techniques they used.]]> 2020-09-29 03:12:08 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/786562072 jenniferleiby https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/787993041 2020-09-29 14:23:44 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/787993041 Lauren Johnson https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/788688489 Carl Akeley had many significant accomplishments, but I think the one he should be remembered for was his work in the field of taxidermy. This is because he completely revolutionized the field and impacted the way it is practiced and how the creations are used.
Though the accomplishment he should be remembered for is revolutionizing taxidermy, I think his greatest accomplishment was his work in animal conservation. I feel like it is often viewed as a binary where people who practice taxidermy do not care about animal conservation so seeing Akeley's desire to protect animals was really inspiring to me.
What most surprised me was how much he did. Not only was he a taxidermist and an animal conservationist, but he also made thirty inventions in addition to this.]]> 2020-09-29 16:45:33 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/788688489 Kayla Behrle kaylaabehrle https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/789253623 I believe that Akeley should be best remembered for his innovation in the filed of taxidermy. Personally, I view his Four Seasons Diorama as his greatest accomplishment. This is due to all of the work and detail put into it. Along with the message he was sending with it, that taxidermied animals can be educational aids, not just trophies. 
I was most surprised with the fact that after a leopard had attacked him, he had managed to kill the leopard by strangling it during a fight to the death.]]> 2020-09-29 18:44:49 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/789253623 I believe that Akeley should be best remembered for his innovation in the filed of taxidermy. Personally, I view his Four Seasons Diorama as his greatest accomplishment. This is due to all of the work and detail put into it. Along with the message he was sending with it, that taxidermied animals can be educational aids, not just trophies. I was most surprised with the fact that after a leopard had attacked him, he had managed to kill the leopard by strangling it during a fight to the death. kaylaabehrle https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/789283387 2020-09-29 18:52:08 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/789283387 Luana Chen https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/789301355 I think Akeley should be remembered by the path he took to become "father of modern taxidermy." It is not only his passion, bravery, and interest in it, also because of his hard works. His success fits well with the famous quote by Edison, "Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration." Without his hard work, he cannot be as successful as he is. I think one of his greatest accomplishments is every chance he caught and finished to became who he am. I was surprised that Akeley killed a Jaguar with his bare hands. It is incredible, and as someone who knows nothing about martial arts, it also sounds crazy. Besides, I was also surprised when I heard he is the father of modern taxidermy. That is when I realized how little I know about the museum people.]]> 2020-09-29 18:56:53 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/789301355 Collin Smitherman smithermancollin https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/789345923 I think Akeley should be known and remembered for pushing the boundaries of modern taxidermy. Without him pushing his limits and transforming accepted ways of doing it museums and other learning vessels would be very limited in their exhibits. He wanted to show what animals really looked like in the wild instead of just simple straight legged/straight faced animals. I think his greatest accomplishment was literally exactly what he should be remembered by, pushing the boundaries of his profession. I think that most taxidermists today owe it to him for working long nights and doing stuff no one accepted at the time. I was surprised that they called him the father of taxidermy. I simply didn't know how much of a history the art of taxidermy actually had.]]> 2020-09-29 19:09:22 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/789345923 Noah Hughes noahhughes222 https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/789723080 I believe that the thing Akeley should be most remembered for is his outstanding innovation within the field of taxidermy. Before him taxidermy was very stiff and looked nothing like living animals. This also helped in fueling what I believe to be his greatest accomplishment being his Four Seasons Diorama which Akeley put much of his time thought and passion into. Not only was the Diorama informative and well done though it also helped show that taxidermized animals could be used in an educational environment and not just as hunt commemorations. I would say the most surprising thing about this mans incredible life is that he managed to kill a leopard with his bare hands. That is insane and I pray I never have to find out if I could do the same!]]> 2020-09-29 21:38:05 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/789723080 Keiran Reynolds https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/789969810 I think that Akeley should be most remembered for his innovative work in habitat dioramas. I might be a little bit biased because of my excitement over the fact that he designed habitat dioramas and taxidermy for the MPM (probably my favorite museum), but the impact of his work can be seen in museums all across the world. We can even see the impacts of his work here on the University of Iowa campus! The Museum of Natural History in McBride hall houses three different habitat dioramas and two halls dedicated to taxidermy specimens. Walking through those halls, you can see a distinct change in the quality of taxidermy after his work influenced the techniques of other taxidermists. As I mentioned before, I was very excited and surprised to learn that his work in featured in the MPM. I had no idea that I've seen his work before and I look forward to seeing it again with new knowledge of its story. ]]> 2020-09-30 00:40:42 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/789969810 Alyssa Grady https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/789971892 I think Akeley should be most remembered for his love of the wild and how he chose to bring that to the masses via taxidermy. Sure, taxidermy is a debatably moral topic, especially given varying views on animals, but it seems like Akeley chose to use it as a way to explore and exhibit his own enthusiasm for the fauna of the world. I personally see his greatest accomplishment as helping in the creation of natural parks across the globe - through these, wildlife could be kept safe from extinction. What surprised me the most was how some of his taxidermy creations reflected his life situation, such as the Fighting African Elephants at the Field Museum.]]> 2020-09-30 00:42:19 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/789971892 Ellie https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/789990656 2020-09-30 00:57:17 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/789990656 Ellie Franks eleanorfranks1 https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/790004894
  Akeley was a groundbreaker for museum displays and animal taxidermy: his most notable accomplishment, to me, is being able to create life-like creations that brought the exotic creatures/places from around the world back to US museums (AMNH, Field Museum). Although there are many differing views of this man - hunter, animal conservationist/killer, adventurer, artist, inventor, thrill-seeker, etc; I think he should be remembered for using his works to better educate the world. In simpler words, he brought the unknown to the known. 

  Learning about Akeley is a bit of a rollercoaster to say the least, as this myth of a man couldn't possibly have truly existed, right? I truly loved reading about all the time Akeley narrowly escaped death on his exhibitions, but *always came back to museums - a very non-stereotypical museum person life. 

*except for dying from Malaria...]]> 2020-09-30 01:08:57 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/790004894 Carlee Christensen https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/790019614 I think that Akeley should be remembered for his outstanding work in taxidermy. He really paved the way for taxidermists, and he made it possible for animals to seem as if they are still living, rather than looking fake. His greatest accomplishment, in my opinion, was his work in taxidermy. What did surprise me, though, was how he killed a leopard himself - with his bare hands. I think that is so crazy, especially since I have never heard of anyone else doing that before.]]> 2020-09-30 01:21:01 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/790019614 Allison Clark https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/790025854 Obviously Akeley will be remembered for his work as the father of modern taxidermy. However, he will also, and I think should be, known for his work as a conservationist. I am personally not a huge fan of hunting, but I can appreciate that he used his exhibits to rally for protection for animals. I think his greatest accomplishment is his work advocating for animals, like with the Pelican Island diorama which led to the establishment of the first wild bird preserve. I was most surprised to hear that he had invented a camera just to record videos for his exhibits. Clearly, he must have been a very smart man. ]]> 2020-09-30 01:26:15 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/790025854 Frank LePore franklepore https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/790104634 What do you think AKELEY should be most remembered for?  
  • Akeley will be remembered for a number of things but none will be more important than taxidermy. He worked at serval museums as Chief Taxidermist. He worked all over the world and left his mark at multiple places. 
What do you see as his greatest accomplishment? 
  • I believe Akeley’s greatest work was helping to stop the extinction of gorillas. In Africa the species was hunted quite often and Akeley helped slow down the hunting. Akeley convinced King Albert 1st to establish the first national park. 
What surprised you as you learned about AKELEY's life and accomplishments?
  • What surprised me was for someone who’s liven depended on the death of animals, tried to stop the killing of animals. He fought to bring an end to gorilla hunting and he was successful. You wouldn’t think a taxidermist would fight for that cause. 
]]> 2020-09-30 02:34:28 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/790104634 Natalie Chartier nrchartier01 https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/790130942 I think Akeley should be most remembered for his popularization of the wholistic, realistic model of taxidermy. Before Akeley, taxidermy was not always very well done, which defeated the purpose of taxidermy as an educational tool. Akeley revolutionized the field by improving the look of taxidermied animals, such as by hiding the seams in the skins. He also spread the use of natural dioramas which helped contextualize unfamiliar animals. Akeley’s contributions to the field of taxidermy made it so people were able to see animals in realistic setting that they never would have had the opportunity to see otherwise. Aside from this, Akeley’s work in animal conservation was also very important and should not be overlooked. The thing that surprised me most about Akeley was how early he started his career. The fact that he was mainly self taught was also shocking and inspiring. It’s interesting to me to see how one person’s creativity can so drastically impact an entire field of work. The other thing about Akeley that I found surprising and confusing was the fact that he fought for conservation, yet he still killed a variety of animals (e.g. the Fighting African Elephants) for his works. To me, these two actions seem at odds with each other.]]> 2020-09-30 03:00:26 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/790130942 Carl Akeley should be most remembered for his advancements in the field of taxidermy. I believe these developments are his greatest accomplishment. His attention to detail and dedication to the craft led to the life-like taxidermy we know today – lifelike structures surrounded around natural habitation, concealed seamed, preserved skin, etc. He should also be remembered for his animal (gorilla) preservation especially since it lead for the first national part in Africa. I was surprised to learn a few things about this complex man, including:1. He was buried a few miles away from where he first encouraged a gorilla in 1921 (four years later). I think that shows such dedication and love for your work.2. He was only 12-years old when we developed an interest for taxidermy and began with a friend’s bird. Wow!3. In addition to being successful in the world of preservation, he was an avid inventor. Akeley lived a full life and it’s hard to narrow these questions down to one response for each! daniellelunsford07 https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/790142013 Danielle Lunsford]]> 2020-09-30 03:12:05 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/790142013 cyanvanderhoef https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/790154247
-What do you think AKELEY should be most remembered for? 
He should be remembered for his innovative work in taxidermy and natural exhibitions or dioramas. His intense interest and study of preserving natural creatures and their environments for educational and scientific purposes reshaped the way exhibits around the world are created.

-What do you see as his greatest accomplishment? 
The new inventions he brought to fruition including the motion picture camera, the systematic way of preserving animals, and his "cement gun".

-What surprised you as you learned about AKELEY's life and accomplishments?
I am amazed by his drive and the ability to accomplish all he did during his time. All of the traveling, the creation, the inventing was all spurred by his drive to preserve animals.


]]> 2020-09-30 03:24:46 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/790154247 Zach Drysdale zachary_drysdale https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/790158222 Personally, I believe his work in creating the wildlife parks around the world to protect species is to be remembered more than it is. Of course, his work in taxidermy obviously cannot be overlooked, as his work and progression in the field shapes taxidermy to this day. His greatest accomplishment is overall his work in conservation, both in the field of taxidermy and on live species in national parks. Although his work entailed some killing, his work in stopping the hunting of endangered animals was almost unparalleled at that time.
I was most surprised about how he was self-taught for the most part in his early life. Not to mention that on top of his work in these fields, he was an amazing inventor and his inventions were used both for things in and out of his work.]]> 2020-09-30 03:28:21 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/790158222 Jackie Egemo jacquelynegemo https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/790176440 The accomplishment I think Akeley should be recognized for the most is his work on the Four Seasons. I think this exhibit is so cool as it features 4 different sets of deer and demonstrates changes over time. This exhibit is still on display as well and his holding up over the long years. 
The most surprising this about Akeley that I learned is that he was an  accomplished inventor. He created one of the first motion picture cameras and it was actually used to make features. This may just be another accomplishment Akeley should be recognised more for ]]> 2020-09-30 03:45:45 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/790176440 Fang Pan https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/790201862 I think without a dought, Akeley should be most remembered for his work in taxidermy. I bit the taxidermy and diorama are the most memorable displays in every natural history museum, thanks to Akeley. His work is not only developed a new way to preserve the animal body but a whole system to recreate part of the nature in the museum. What about his life that surprised me the most in his life is that he keeps friendship with president Theodore Roosevelt, who even collected specimens for him; and the "fighting pair" elephant taxidermy displayed in the main hall of the Field Museum was his work and maybe a secret metaphor of his relationship with his wife made me laugh.]]> 2020-09-30 04:10:02 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/790201862 Sharun Bell sharunbell https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/790243553
What do you think AKELEY should be most remembered for?  What do you see as his greatest accomplishment? 

I honestly believe that Akeley should be most remembered for his passion for animals and wildlife overall. Although this may not translate well because he did take some animals' life to accurately portray some works of his own, such as in the "Fighting African Elephants" piece, I think more than not Akeley should be known for his passion for capturing the essence of animals accurately. This carries huge importance not only in his career but in the modern day, because of how important wild life preservations are still today and how Akeley's work greatly inspired this. I think that one of his greatest accomplishments was creating the first Habitat Diorama which helped create further tools to campaign for protecting nature - such as the Pelican Island, which was the first wild bird preserve. So through his Dioramas also - his passion for saving animals and shining a light on the importance of preserving wild life as well as capturing the beauty and nature of animals in life and even after death, shares a powerful part of the human experience and understanding of these said animals. 


What surprised you as you learned about AKELEY's life and accomplishments?

I think that something that surprised me about Akeley is partially what I had previously mentioned - that he sometimes killed these wild animals himself. Although I think that from my understanding of the story specifically with the elephant, Akeley killed the elephant in self defense, it was a little shocking considering much of his work was to not only portray these animals in a realistic and respectful way, but also part of his worked seemed to be to protect them and to bring awareness to their existence and importance through showcasing them in taxidermy and Diaramas as an educational tool. Even with the knowledge of this, I still found that he did this pretty surprising, and a little contradicting. 

]]> 2020-09-30 04:46:14 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/790243553 Josephine Bratt https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/790252000 Akeley should be remembered best for transforming the field of taxidermy. Early attempts by taxidermists to stuff animals they'd never seen in life are truly the stuff of nightmares, but Akeley's legacy led the field to something that is respected today. His artistic achievements are most impressive to me. During this module I remembered how in 8th grade during our career cruisin' quizzes I was bullied for getting taxidermist as my #1 career path and seeing Akeley's success in the field has, all these years later, actually made me feel better!

I was surprised to learn about the time he spent in Wisconsin, and I wish I joking when I say that when I think of skinning creatures in Wisconsin I think of the distressing number of cannibal serial killers that have come from my home state. I know this sounds like I'm not taking this question seriously, but as you can see in the paragraph above I seem to have some hangups about taxidermy. The Milwaukee Public Museum is my cousin's favorite museum; their work in the MKE community documenting local artists is tied to that museum, so it was just nice to see recognition for the museum in such a successful person's career path.]]> 2020-09-30 04:53:06 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/790252000 Meghan Schilla https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/792553112 Akeley should be remembered most for his work on taxidermy and how he revolutionized that field. I also think he should be remembered for his work with Mountain Gorilla's and how museums and taxidermy can be used as a way to promote conservation. One of the things that surprised me about Akeley was that he invented a motion picture camera and that it was used to shoot Nanook of the North, which I just watched for my North American Archaeology class. ]]> 2020-09-30 18:26:23 UTC https://padlet.com/HeidiLung/MUSM3120_MOD5/wish/792553112