The Re-Birth of Venus in Florence's Royal Museum of Physics and Natural History

Messbarger, Rebecca

doi:10.1093/jhc/fhs007

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…Thus, teachers should be aware not only of the possibility of adverse effects on professional matters relating to equality and diversity when using such imagery, but also of their potential usefulness when raising awareness of gender issues. Figure in our survey, for example, was produced for display in a science museum to disseminate scientific knowledge for the public good (Messbarger, ). Nevertheless, because its pose is erotically charged (a London‐based anatomical museum was closed and its anatomical Venus figure destroyed because of its perceived eroticism (Bates, )), it can be seen to reflect a cultural construction of the female body that privileges symbolic significations while purporting to be objective and neutral (Ciobanu, ).…”

Section: Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medical students and professional anatomists do not perceive gender bias within imagery featuring anatomy

et al. 2017

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Previous studies suggest that, while both medical students and professional anatomists recognize the importance of gender issues and do not wish to associate with sexism, most are unaware of the possible negative aspects of sexism within anatomy (Morgan et al. , J. Anat. 224:352–365; , Clin. Anat. 29:892–910). To further investigate this issue, we provided second year medical students at Cardiff University (n = 293) and at the University of Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité (n = 142) and professional anatomists (n = 208) with a questionnaire inviting them to address the possibility that gender factors within anatomical imagery (both historical and contemporary) hinder the dispassionate representation of anatomy. Ethical approval for the survey was obtained from the universities at both Cardiff and Paris. In the light of previous findings, the hypothesis tested was that medical students and professional anatomists do not perceive a gender bias when reflected in imagery that is based on anatomical iconography. Our survey results support this hypothesis and suggest that most students and anatomists are unaware of the possible negative aspects of sexism within the culture of anatomy. We consequently recommend that teachers of anatomy and authors of anatomical textbooks should be aware of the possibility of adverse effects on professional matters relating to equality and diversity issues when using imagery. Clin. Anat. 30:711–732, 2017. © 2017Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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Section: Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medical students and professional anatomists do not perceive gender bias within imagery featuring anatomy

et al. 2017

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“…Learning activities that emphasized identification of musculoskeletal structures took place during visits to the wax anatomy museums in Florence (La Specola Museum, University of Florence) and in Bologna (Wax Anatomy and Obstetrics Collection in the Palazzo Poggi Museum and Luigi Cattaneo Anatomical Wax Museum at the University of Bologna). The wax anatomy models in these museums were made by artists working closely with anatomists to mimic human anatomy for inspection by students and, in Florence, also by the public (Haviland & Parish, 1970;Chen et al, 1999;Ballestriero, 2010;Riva et al, 2010;Messbarger, 2013;Narang et al, 2021). The wax anatomy models displayed in the La Specola Museum were created entirely of wax using casts of dissected cadaver anatomy, and feature the work of Clemente Susini (1754-1814) (Poggesi, 1999(Poggesi, , 2009.…”

Section: Identification Of Musculoskeletal Anatomymentioning

confidence: 99%

Using represented bodies in Renaissance artworks to teach musculoskeletal and surface anatomy

Gross

Gear

Sepponen

2023

Anatomical Sciences Ed

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Surface anatomy is an important skill for students in preparation for patient care, and peer examination is often used to teach musculoskeletal and surface anatomy. An alternative pedagogical approach is to use bodies represented in artworks. Represented bodies display fictive anatomy, providing students with the opportunity to apply their musculoskeletal knowledge and to think critically when evaluating the anatomical fidelity of a represented body. An elective course at the University of Michigan enabled undergraduate students to analyze the musculoskeletal and surface anatomy depicted in Renaissance artworks. Students traveled to Italy in 2018 (n = 14) and 2022 (n = 15) to analyze the fictive anatomy portrayed in artistic sculptures and musculoskeletal structures depicted in wax anatomy models and sculpted skeletons. In assignments, students were asked to identify musculoskeletal structures as portrayed in the context of represented anatomy created by Italian Renaissance artists and to assess the fidelity of the depicted anatomy. The students also applied their knowledge of musculoskeletal anatomy to describe body position and evaluate muscle function in their assessments of the accuracy or inaccuracy of the fictive anatomy. The students reported that evaluating the anatomical fidelity of represented bodies in artworks supported their learning of musculoskeletal and surface anatomy, and that their critical thinking skills improved in the course. Evaluation of the anatomical fidelity of represented bodies in artworks is an effective pedagogical approach that can be implemented in art museums as an adjunctive learning experience to deepen students' musculoskeletal and surface anatomy knowledge and further develop their critical thinking skills.

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Historiography of the History of Science

Nyhart¹

2016

A Companion to the History of Science

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The Re-Birth of Venus in Florence's Royal Museum of Physics and Natural History

Cited by 5 publications

References 0 publications

Medical students and professional anatomists do not perceive gender bias within imagery featuring anatomy

Medical students and professional anatomists do not perceive gender bias within imagery featuring anatomy

Using represented bodies in Renaissance artworks to teach musculoskeletal and surface anatomy

Historiography of the History of Science

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