In this Book
- God—or Gorilla: Images of Evolution in the Jazz Age
- Book
- 2008
- Published by: Johns Hopkins University Press
- Series: Medicine, Science, and Religion in Historical Context
summary
As scholars debate the most appropriate way to teach evolutionary theory, Constance Areson Clark provides an intriguing reflection on similar debates in the not-too-distant past. Set against the backdrop of the Jazz Age, God—or Gorilla explores the efforts of biologists to explain evolution to a confused and conflicted public during the 1920s. Focusing on the use of images and popularization, Clark shows how scientists and anti-evolutionists deployed schematics, cartoons, photographs, sculptures, and paintings to win the battle for public acceptance. She uses representative illustrations and popular media accounts of the struggle to reveal how concepts of evolutionary theory changed as they were presented to, and absorbed into, popular culture.Engagingly written and deftly argued, God—or Gorilla offers original insights into the role of images in communicating—and miscommunicating—scientific ideas to the lay public.
Table of Contents
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- Acknowledgments
- pp. xiii-xvi
- 2. The Museum in the Modern Babylon
- pp. 17-40
- 4. Saving the Phenomena
- pp. 69-84
- 5. Unlikely Infidels
- pp. 85-106
- 7. The Pictures in Our Heads
- pp. 132-161
- 8. Scientists and the Monkey Trial
- pp. 162-194
- Conclusion
- pp. 224-233
Additional Information
ISBN
9781421401669
Related ISBN(s)
9780801888250, 9781421407760
MARC Record
OCLC
636036184
Pages
312
Launched on MUSE
2012-01-01
Language
English
Open Access
No