Extra Credit Event 1: San Diego Museum of Man-Instruments of Torture

Instruments of Torture

    

My receipt (the Mayan exhibit and this exhibit used the same ticket)

Dominique Cetale and I in front of the exhibit

The Instruments of Torture exhibit is a visiting exhibit at the Museum of Man in San Diego, CA. My cousin, Dominique and I decided to go to this exhibit because of it's unique quality. Rather than the exhibit being about something that one would call "beautiful", they explain the rather darker side of a culture. The exhibit showcased different types of devices used to torture and punish people. We were unable to take any photos of the pieces in the exhibit, but I have found some online. 

A device used to punish women

The whole exhibit

A variety of devices used for torture

A spiked chair used for prisoners

The technology for human punishment has changed over the years. However, the main shift in technology has come from the shift in laws and ideas in how people should be treated. For example, in the United States, lethal injection for death row has slowly replaced usage of hanging, gas chambers and electrical chairs. It has been determined that it is less painful than those other options of death. As civilization has moved on, people have transitioned towards "nicer" was of killing people. While this is not true everywhere, globally there has been a shift from torturing devices to quick (and relatively painless) sources of death. 

The majority of the torture devices were not designed in order to be aesthetically pleasing, but purely for maximal pain. Most of the devices had spikes, stretched people uncomfortably or were used to cut a person up.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/g-roger-denson/torture-and-terror-in-art_b_2600028.html 

This article shows many good pictures about how torture has been portrayed in art throughout history, and these physical remains of torture devices are just a better way for us to learn exactly how people were hurt.

Since torture has been a part of human history since it began, it is not surprising that torture has been portrayed in art pieces. In many cultures, torture was extremely common and was almost used as a form of entertainment.

While this was an educational event, I am not sure if I would recommend it. It was very sad and almost scary to see all of these torturing devices. However, if you would like to know the history of how people have tortured others throughout the years in different cultures, it is a great event.

Bibliography:

Accomando, Beth, Maureen Cavanaugh, and Katie Schoolov. "Instruments of Torture." KPBS Public Broadcasting. KPBS, 3 Sept. 2012. Web. 02 Aug. 2014. <http://www.kpbs.org/news/2012/sep/03/instruments-torture/>.

Denson, G. Roger. "Torture and Terror in Art History and the Healing Power of Revelation Before Zero Dark Thirty." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 01 Feb. 2013. Web. 02 Aug. 2014. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/g-roger-denson/torture-and-terror-in-art_b_2600028.html>.

Henry, Michelle. "Torture - ESL Resources." Torture - ESL Resources. N.p., 25 May 2013. Web. 02 Aug. 2014. <http://www.michellehenry.fr/torture.htm>.

"Instruments of Torture." Museum of Man. San Diego Museum of Man, n.d. Web. 02 Aug. 2014. <http://www.museumofman.org/torture>.

McCorquodale, Amanda. "Around Town This Weekend: Instruments of Torture, Venus Williams, and DIY Soundtracks." Riptide 2.0. Miami New Times Blogs, 2 Apr. 2010. Web. 02 Aug. 2014. <http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2010/04/around_town_this_weekend_16.php>.