Museum of Jurassic Technology

Me at the Museum of Jurassic Technology

The Museum of Jurassic Technology was much more different than I expected. In fact, the collections from the museum were so unique that I’m still not quite sure how to adequately describe my experience! But one interesting theme that I noticed throughout the museum was one that we have actually stayed pretty far away from in class, though I think it still relates will to the general concepts of art and science. That is, the topic of religion and how it relates to these ideas.

Athanasius Kircher

            One exhibit, featuring Athanasius Kircher, displayed pieces that encapsulated the ideas of art, science, and religion. A Roman Catholic mathematician, linguist, geologist, etc. from Germany, many consider Kircher a “Master of a Hundred Arts”. His contributions to society range from a creating a magnetic clock to establishing the concept of Egyptology. 

Kircher's Magnetic Clock

Many of the pieces in the exhibit that described his life focused on his conversion to Christianity, and the impact that this had on his work. These include “The Conversion of St. Eustace at Mentorella”, a scene depicting a church Kircher rebuilt, and “Why the Tower Could Not Reach the Moon”, based off of Kircher’s last book Turris Babel, which piqued his interests in linguistics and engineering.

"Why the Tower Could Not Reach the Moon"

            Both of the pieces above have biblical undertones, but also have close ties with science and, obviously, art. Another piece towards the front of the museum depicts a small wooden replica of the famed Noah’s Ark, weaving in yet another example of how art, engineering, and religion meet. A blurb on the wall next to it explains the origins of the great flood, as well as a brief nod to the biblical character. This ties in a scientific explanation for the flood as well as acknowledging the religious aspect of the story, which I feel is rare for the scientific community.

Model of Noah's Ark

            No matter what you believe, it’s important to examine all possible origins and explanations for things. It was really exciting that the Museum of Jurassic Technology recognized not only the scientific elements to human development and art, but also the religious aspects, which have been a challenge and an inspiration to artists and scientists alike throughout history. I know our class acknowledged the likes of Freud and Jung and consciousness/dreaming, but I think it would have been interesting to explore religion too—it is not always as antithetical to science as one might expect, as evidenced by this museum.