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Döda kroppar och döda ting : Materialitet och affekt i museiutställningar med mänskliga kvarlevor och artefakter.

Åkebrand, Miriam LU (2026) ABMM74 20261
Division of ALM, Digital Cultures and Publishing Studies
Abstract
This thesis examines how museums display human remains in relation to artefacts
within the same exhibition contexts. While previous research has largely focused
on ethical questions, repatriation, and public reactions to human remains, fewer
studies have systematically compared how museums materially and affectively
differentiate human remains from other museum objects.
The study investigates three museums with different institutional backgrounds:
Medical Museion in Copenhagen, the Museum of Evolution in Uppsala, and
Gothenburg City Museum. Through a qualitative and comparative exhibition
analysis inspired by David Whitehead’s walkthrough methodology, the thesis
analyses how human remains and artefacts are presented... (More)
This thesis examines how museums display human remains in relation to artefacts
within the same exhibition contexts. While previous research has largely focused
on ethical questions, repatriation, and public reactions to human remains, fewer
studies have systematically compared how museums materially and affectively
differentiate human remains from other museum objects.
The study investigates three museums with different institutional backgrounds:
Medical Museion in Copenhagen, the Museum of Evolution in Uppsala, and
Gothenburg City Museum. Through a qualitative and comparative exhibition
analysis inspired by David Whitehead’s walkthrough methodology, the thesis
analyses how human remains and artefacts are presented through spatial design,
display techniques, narrative framing, and affective atmosphere.The theoretical
framework combines material culture theory and affect theory. Material culture
theory is used to analyse how objects are assigned cultural and symbolic value,
while affect theory provides tools for understanding how exhibitions produce
emotional and sensory responses.
The findings demonstrate that human remains are consistently treated differently
from artefacts. Museums frequently use strategies such as isolated placement,
subdued lighting, warning signs, ethical contextualisation, and individualising
narratives to frame human remains as morally and emotionally sensitive objects.
Artefacts, by contrast, are more often presented primarily as historical or scientific
material. The study also shows that exhibition design strongly shapes affective
responses such as discomfort, empathy, fascination, and reflection. The thesis
argues that museums construct human remains as objects with a distinct ontological
and ethical status. Through exhibition practices, museums actively shape how
visitors understand, emotionally respond to, and assign value to human remains in
comparison to artefacts. The study contributes to museological research on
materiality, affect, and the ethics of display. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Åkebrand, Miriam LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
Dead bodies and dead things : Materiality and affect in museum exhibitions featuring human remains and artefacts.
course
ABMM74 20261
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
museum studies, human remains, materiality, affect, exhibition analysis, museum display, ethics, artefacts.
language
Swedish
id
9229178
date added to LUP
2026-06-16 09:34:39
date last changed
2026-06-16 09:34:39
@misc{9229178,
  abstract     = {{This thesis examines how museums display human remains in relation to artefacts 
within the same exhibition contexts. While previous research has largely focused 
on ethical questions, repatriation, and public reactions to human remains, fewer 
studies have systematically compared how museums materially and affectively 
differentiate human remains from other museum objects. 
The study investigates three museums with different institutional backgrounds: 
Medical Museion in Copenhagen, the Museum of Evolution in Uppsala, and 
Gothenburg City Museum. Through a qualitative and comparative exhibition 
analysis inspired by David Whitehead’s walkthrough methodology, the thesis 
analyses how human remains and artefacts are presented through spatial design, 
display techniques, narrative framing, and affective atmosphere.The theoretical 
framework combines material culture theory and affect theory. Material culture 
theory is used to analyse how objects are assigned cultural and symbolic value, 
while affect theory provides tools for understanding how exhibitions produce 
emotional and sensory responses. 
The findings demonstrate that human remains are consistently treated differently 
from artefacts. Museums frequently use strategies such as isolated placement, 
subdued lighting, warning signs, ethical contextualisation, and individualising 
narratives to frame human remains as morally and emotionally sensitive objects. 
Artefacts, by contrast, are more often presented primarily as historical or scientific 
material. The study also shows that exhibition design strongly shapes affective 
responses such as discomfort, empathy, fascination, and reflection. The thesis 
argues that museums construct human remains as objects with a distinct ontological 
and ethical status. Through exhibition practices, museums actively shape how 
visitors understand, emotionally respond to, and assign value to human remains in 
comparison to artefacts. The study contributes to museological research on 
materiality, affect, and the ethics of display.}},
  author       = {{Åkebrand, Miriam}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Döda kroppar och döda ting : Materialitet och affekt i museiutställningar med mänskliga kvarlevor och artefakter.}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}