-Elephant Moves Trunk c. 1905 - 1929

Editor: Here we have "-Elephant Moves Trunk", a metal sculpture created by the A.C. Williams Company between 1905 and 1929. It’s small, and has a certain weathered charm to it. How would you interpret this work, looking at it today? Curator: Well, immediately, I think of the broader cultural context of the early 20th century, a time when objects like this were common and often overlooked as mere novelties. Considering it through a lens of cultural studies, what does the mass production of such an object, depicting a domesticated elephant, tell us about the relationship between humans and animals during that period? Was this meant to simply be decorative, or something more? Editor: I hadn't thought about it in terms of that relationship, or about mass production. The fact it’s made of metal and seems pretty sturdy makes it feel less throwaway. Curator: Exactly! The materiality and presumed function speak volumes. It's durable, which perhaps suggests value, maybe even an aspiration. However, we also have to be aware that such imagery romanticizes and potentially appropriates the image of the elephant. Consider how it participates in the era's colonial narratives and power structures through its very existence and circulation. In what ways do you see it reinforcing those hierarchies? Editor: So, you mean, even though it’s just a small object, it still carries with it all this cultural baggage about how we see animals and different countries? It's also pretty amazing it’s lasted this long and is now considered art, and not just a toy. Curator: Precisely! By acknowledging the complexities inherent within even seemingly simple objects like this, we gain a deeper understanding of the intertwined dynamics of art, power, and identity across different historical periods. Editor: I’m going to look at old toys completely differently now! Curator: Wonderful! That’s exactly the idea.