Waking the Dead: Decomposition and the Display of Human Remains in Modern Museums

Tuesday, July 21st at 6:30pm Have you ever wondered how human remains end up on display, or what challenges the curators can face? A topic spanning decades of museum work: the preservation and ethical obligations behind human remains. Whether focusing on issues in decomposition or how to honor one's culture in the afterlife, institutions must make these considerations every day. Join local cultural academic Julia Menges to learn the care museums put into these bodies in their afterlife, and the difficulties they face. Julia Menges has a background in museum programs and operations, membership, and special event management, working at various art, natural history, and children's institutions. She currently holds a Master's in Global Culture from King's College London; her dissertation discussed the preservation of human remains in museum settings. In her spare time, she enjoys writing, reading fantasy and sci-fi novels, and studying local entomology. Putney Public Library is located at 55 Main St. in Putney, VT. This program is free and open to the public.