Natural History Dioramas History, Construction and Educational Role [Hardcover]

This book brings together in a unique perspective aspects of natural history dioramas, their history, construction and rationale, interpretation and educational importance, from a number of different countries, from the west coast of the USA, across Europe to China.?It?describes the journey of dioramas from their inception through development to visions of their future. A complementary journey is that of visitors and their individual sense making and construction of their understanding from their own starting points, often interacting with others (e.g. teachers, peers, parents) as well as media (e.g. labels). Dioramas have been, hitherto, a rather neglected area of museum exhibits but a renaissance is beginning for them and their educational importance in contributing to peoples understanding of the natural world. This volume showcases how dioramas?can reach a wide audience and increase access to biological knowledge.Introduction, Sue Dale Tunnicliffe, London (UK) & Annette Scheersoi, Bonn (D).- I. History and Features of Natural History Dioramas.- I.1 History of Dioramas, Claudia Kamcke, Braunschweig, & Rainer Hutterer, Bonn (D).- I.2 Dioramas as historical documents, Rainer Hutterer, Bonn (D).- I.3 A window on the world  wildlife dioramas, Pat Morris, Ascot (US).- I.4 Dioramas as constructs of reality: Art, photography, and the discursive space, Geraldine Howie (UK).- I.5 James Perry Wilson: Shifting paradigms of natural history diorama painting, Michael Anderson, Yale (US).- II. Resurrecting and Modern Dioramas.- II.1 Dioramas in Natural History Museum  Tools for nature conservation, John Borg, Mdina (MT).- II.2 Using technology to deepen and extend visitors interaction with dioramas, Mark Loveland, Barbara Buckley & Edys Quellmalz, WestEd (US).- II.3 Displaying Ecological Landscapes by Dioramas - an example provided by Zhejiang Museum of Natural History, Ximin Kang, Zhejiang (CHN).- II.4 Conservative restoration and reconstruction of lc!