Cadaverous Rhetorics and Affective Regulation at the Anatomical Museum

Rhetoric Society Quarterly Mar 2024

Cadaverous Rhetorics and Affective Regulation at the Anatomical Museum

S. Scott Graham

Abstract

This article explores cadaverous rhetorics with a focus on public displays of human remains at anatomical museums. The article has two primary components: First, it advances a theory of cadaverous rhetoric grounded in a blending of rhetorical, feminist, and psychological affect theory. The article argues that combining Casey Boyle's transductive rhetoric with Sara Ahmed's cultural politics of emotion and the psychology of extensive affective regulation offers a great deal of insight into the public display of human remains. Second, the article explores the cadaverous rhetorics at three museums: the Mütter Museum, Surgeon's Hall, and the Museo de la Medicina. The article traces how the practices of acquisition, preparation, preservation, display and contextualization aim to blunt negative affective responses and to catalyze positive visitor experiences. The article closes with a rumination on the limited success of cadaverous rhetorics in the face of visitor tendencies anchored in attachments to justice-oriented frameworks.

Journal: Rhetoric Society Quarterly
Published: 2024-03-14
DOI: 10.1080/02773945.2023.2292019
Open Access: Closed
Topics: affect and writing

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (1)

Zerbe et al. (2025)

The Rhetoric of Science in (Times of) Crisis

Rhetoric Society Quarterly

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