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Julian Flannigan
CYBER CURIOSITIES
Early cabinets of curiosities reinforced a power imbalance between European and Indigenous cultures. Everything and everyone outside of Eurocentric norms was perceived as “the other.” Through museums, circuses, and world’s fairs, “the other” was continuously reduced to a form of entertainment because of its “exotic” and “bizarre” traits.
In the digital age, the phenomenon of fetishization and objectification of the other has evolved with social media. While these practices are widespread, they can be broadly categorized into three main forms: appropriation, exploitation, and ridicule.
My thesis aims to connect historical practices of showcasing novelty to modern experiences through a catalog and cabinet display.
