The Slave Ships

Our trip to the Docklands was informative and educational if not somewhat uncomfortable. Through Kris’ reading on Turner’s work on The Slavers, we learned of the horrors of slavery, and the role that the British Empire played in its role. As an American, I was very aware of slavery’s impact on our country, but I did not know just how important slavery was in building London.  
The exhibit on the slave trade was uncomfortable. Listening to our discussion after our endeavors in the exhibit, I could understand that some students felt that the museum had dulled the horror of slavery by using bureaucratic language. While I did not necessarily feel that way,  I can understand why some students might have.
Turner’s The Slave Ship displays the horrors of slavery in full visceral grisly impact. The image of slaves being thrown into the sea for the purposes of the slavers getting financial compensation is almost too disgusting to look at. I intentionally avoided staring at the details because I did not want to ruminate on the fact that human lives were lost so that the slavers could turn a profit, (and it likely was not even that large of a profit at that).
The painting displays the horrors of slavery in a way that the museum does not, but that is not necessarily the fault of the museum. Images often communicate far better than words, and this is no exception. The museum had a difficult task of creating an exhibit on the slave trade, while keeping it appropriate for children. I would not show Turner’s painting to anyone under the age of thirteen. The imagery of the fires of hell combined with what is actually going on in the image would be enough to disturb many children.

While the museum can tell individuals facts about Britain’s role in the slave trade, Turner’s image displays the devastation enacted on slaves at its worst. In reality, observing both the painting and the museum are necessary to gain a full understanding of the horrors of slavery. Without the context provided by the museum, the meaning of the image is dulled slightly, but without the Turner’s images, the impact of slavery can be dismissed by stating it was in the past. The image evokes empathy.

Comments

  1. AnonymousMarch 11, 2019 at 2:46 AM

    I came in with a similar understanding to yours because I also knew the impact slavery had on America but nothing of the impact it had on building and shaping London. I can also understand why some people felt the museum dulled the true monstrosity of slavery while others felt it the museum did the subject justice. I, initially, felt the museum did the subject justice. But, as I was listening to the comments of others and recognizing some of the "bureaucratic language" that others noted, I began to understand why the museum did not fully do the subject justice. I completely agree with you in the fact that the museum had a difficult task of making the content impactful and accurate while keeping it appropriate for younger audiences. The Turner painting, on the other hand, holds nothing back. I think you are correct in saying that both the painting and the museum are necessary to understand the history and horror of slavery in London.

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