Some comments on blogs

I have encountered a wealth of interesting and unusual writing related to natural history; it seems a topic to which the deviant, odd, or just plain curious are naturally drawn to. (No wonder I find it so compelling!) I feel like I'm among good company here.

Some that stand out:

Morbid Anatomy
An extremely extensive blog, dedicated to "Surveying the Interstices of Art and Medicine, Death and Culture." Not for the faint of heart; this blog posts many images of medical oddities, especially historical illustrations and displays designed for teaching medicine. Requires a healthy interest in the human body and the many, many things that can go wrong. Contains exhaustive lists of links to exhibitions, collections, museums, books, websites, artists, etc.

Museum 2.0
This blog "explores ways that web 2.0 philosophies can be applied in museum design." An interesting concept, one which I hadn't thought of before. I can see, from working at a museum myself, how this could be crucial for museums transitioning into the technological age. Museums have to continually evolve to stay relevant and attractive to the public, if they are to survive, and this means they will have to make use of the internet.

Cabinet of Wonders
This blog is about "Bringing the Early Age of Enlightenment to the modern world", and it is like a wonder cabinet on its own. One of the things I like about this blog, and that is rather unique compared to some of the other blogs related to this topic, is that there are a lot of posts about books. The posts cover a wide range of interesting subjects,

where things of interest are set out, in possibly bizarre, possibly fetishistic presentation, for perusal by the discerning, who understand that presentation, and scientific interest, are all a form of magic.

Taxidermy: Ravishing Beasts
As it sounds from the name, this blog is entirely dedicated to taxidermy. This relates to my subject matter because taxidermy has always played a major role in natural history collections and museums. This is another blog of the morbid/science variety (a popular combination with us museum folk). The blog explores all the different uses of taxidermy, from sport/hunting to education.

The Zymoglyphic Museum Curator's Web Log
I'm not quite sure what the Zymoglyphic Museum is, or what degree of "reality" it possesses, but the website states that it is

The world's only repository for the study and display of Zymoglyphic art, artifacts, and natural history. The creative output of the region relies mainly on the assemblage of natural objects. The museum also presents special exhibits on related topics in natural object assemblage, and maintains a curiosity cabinet of items that reflect the spirit of Zymoglyphic culture.

Interesting dioramas, artifacts, and bits of information. Definitely in the Natural History museum vein, and makes no difference to me whether it "actually" exists or not.

Brass Goggles
Steampunk; discusses "artifacts" and objects people have made. Not directly related to Natural History museums, but worthy of an honorary mention for its interest in objects that never were, in a past that never was.