The Glorified Museum of Death

The Museum of Death was founded and established in 1995. The original location of the museum is located in Hollywood, California. However, it has become so popular that it has expanded to other locations. Its main goal was to originally educate individuals about death in the United States. It was trying to get people to appreciate being alive. The founders, JD Healy and Cathee Shultz, intended it to be an art gallery. Although, as time went on their focus changed towards a museum on death instead. When the art gallery was first opened it was very controversial. The images and art portrayed in the gallery was pushing norms and boundaries. Images of gruesome death and sex related art work were being displayed causing people to second guess the idea behind this specific gallery. Especially when they added works from real life serial killers. When it became too much to be considered an art gallery, they had rebranded it to a museum.This allowed them to have more creative freedom without the risk of having to shut down for their exhibits.

This specific exhibit is not for those who are squeamish. It shows very graphic videos/images of death, and even shows violent methods of death. Some of the artwork displayed includes, serial murderer art, Charles Manson crime scene photos, guillotined head of a serial killer, Black Dahlia crime scene photos, and various videos of execution devices and serial killers. It even shows a body bag and coffin collection. These aren’t fake or replicas images, videos, or ideas. Everything presented in this museum has happened in real life and was a huge deal at the time of the crime. The murderers and victims presented were real people. Victims’ crime scene photos and autopsy photos are put out for the world to see. There is no regard or empathy toward how their families might feel about it. Even the guillotined head of a famous serial killer, Henri Landru, seems cruel. Yes, he may have been a bad person and some could say he deserved the punishment he received, but does that make it okay to display his head out for people to see?

This type of art is seen as a dark form of art. The art of death and crime is expressed in a way to be informative and “cool”. Some people find this museum to be extremely fascinating and worthwhile. While others find it very horrid and upsetting. It really depends on the person. The Museum of Death almost glorifies this idea of murder and serial killers. It is so glorified that people travel just to visit the museum. The crimes displayed seem to be viewed as a story with gory details rather than a true crime scene involving human beings. People get a kick out of looking at dead people who suffered. It is looked at as entertainment and it’s amusing to some. The fact that they had to change the name from “art gallery” to “museum” because the exhibit was too harsh and uncomforting, says a lot about the art being sold. These creators and founders are making money off human suffrage and crime. We as a society are obsessed with crime and this museum proves it.