NATIONAL MUSEUM OF FUNERAL HISTORY

By Michael Grodotzke

DESCRIPTION

• Description on program: “Experience unique national treasures and the country’s largest display of funeral service memorabilia in the 30,500 square foot National Museum of Funeral History”

• Name: National Museum of Funeral History

• Founded in: 1992 by Mr. Robert L. Waltrip

• Elements: A series of dark, but celebratory connecting rooms featuring different exhibits such as “Popes of the Vatican”, “History of Embalming”, and “Thanks for the Memories”

• What is it all about? Museum effectively demonstrates the different ways mankind handles death via exhibits from different time periods and cultures

• Highlights/Recognizable memorabilia: Michael Jackson items and The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

ELEMENTS OF THE WORK: LIGHTING

• Lighting changes based on theme of the room and the ambiance desired

• For example, neon lights were used to represent the star power and joy celebrities bring us

• Dim lights were used for the 9/11 exhibit to represent a somber tone

• The Pope’s room was brightly lit which symbolized a godly effect

TECHNICAL QUALITIES OF THE WORK

• Looping video’s of the deceased life stories

• Video of the 21 gun salute and changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier located in Arlington National Cemetery

• Interactive touch screen games such as Guess the Celebrities Epitaph

• The chilling radio broadcast of J.F.K.’s assasination

ANALYSIS

• Similarities: • All exhibits had a theme, exhibit specific

entertainment features such as interactive games and videos

• All exhibits had multiple rooms which escalated to a climatic ending, for example, in the“Popes of the Vatican” exhibit each room covered a specific part of Pope John Paul II’s life ending with his viewing and his burial in the same tomb in St. Peter’s Basilica as previous popes

POINT OF EMPHASIS

• All exhibits had a focal point which tied to the theme

• In the “Tradiciones funerarias de Mexico” exhibit, the Dia De Los Muertos skeleton was featured in all aspects including in the focal point of the exhibit which was the shrine to the Santa Muerte or skeleton figure seen in all day of the dead traditions

• Patrons were encouraged to write messages to deceased loved ones on the shrine

MY INTERPRETATION

• Expressive Qualities – Emotions Felt• The Popes of the Vatican Exhibit

• Humbling• Grandiose• Spiritual• Enlightenment

• 9/11 Exhibit• Tragic• Heart wrenching• Respect for first responders

• Arlington National Cemetery• Moving

DOES THE WORK REMIND YOU OF OTHER THINGS YOU’VE EXPERIENCED?

• The Popes of the Vatican exhibit is very similar to the Rothko Chapel in regards to it being a spiritual experience; both were very awe inspiring

• The 9/11 exhibit reminded me of when I went to the Holocaust museum in middle school; watching the victims weep over the tragedy on the screens was very saddening. It reminded me of the emotions I felt when reading and watching the interviews of the Holocaust survivors

RELATION TO MY STUDIES

• The Presidential Room relates to my current history classes as we just covered the J.F.K. assassination

• Maya Ying Lin made the Reflections on the Wall exhibit which was dedicated on Veteran’s Day weekend in memory of the men and women that died in Southeast Asia. I found it very fascinating considering we just learned about her in class

JUDGEMENT

• This museum was very enjoyable and I would recommend it to all of my classmates

• The $10 dollar entrance fee was definitely worth it

• I expected a boring exhibit and was truly not interested in going there, but I feel the exact opposite now. I plan on bringing my friends back with me soon.

• Infant Coffins!

COMPARED TO OTHERS…

• This museum was much more interesting than the Gulf Coast museum because the Gulf Coast Museum lacks the interactive games and videos that this museum had

ORIGINALITY?

• Where else can you write your own epitaph and take home a copy of a celebrities death certificate!?

• I’d say this museum takes the cake for originality

“ANY DAY ABOVE GROUND IS A GOOD ONE”