BrainFood Show: How to Make a Shrunken Head

TL;DR

Shrunken heads were a real and significant part of certain tribes' culture, used for spiritual and ceremonial purposes. Jeremy Bentham, a famous philosopher, requested in his will that his body be preserved and displayed in a sitting position, with his real head and a wax sculpture. The auto-icon, as it is called, can be seen at the University College of London.

Transcript

all right welcome to another episode of the brain food podcast in this one ah well we've changed we changed our format a couple of episodes ago so instead of doing any follow up up front that comes at the end for those of you regular listeners who maybe miss last week's episode that's how we're running things now so we're gonna start off just jumpi... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤕 Shrunken heads were not a myth but a real and significant part of certain tribes' culture and practices.
• 🧘 Jeremy Bentham's request to have his body preserved and displayed in a sitting position with his real head and a wax sculpture was a unique and eccentric way to be remembered.
• 🥰 The auto-icon is an example of the intersection of art, science, and philosophy in the 18th century.

Questions & Answers

Q: What were the reasons behind the practice of making shrunken heads?

The tribes believed that shrinking the heads of enemies protected them from revengeful spirits and gave them power and protection. It was also a way to honor their ancestors.

Q: Why did Jeremy Bentham want his body to be preserved and displayed?

Bentham wanted to be remembered and commemorated as the founder of utilitarianism. He had a sense of humor and eccentricity and thought it would be a unique and interesting way to leave a lasting impression.

Q: How did they shrink the heads?

The process involved boiling the head, removing the skull and soft tissue, filling it with small stones and sand, and tightening the skin. It was a detailed and delicate process that took about a week to complete.

Q: What happened to Jeremy Bentham's real head?

Initially, it was placed inside the auto-icon, but later it was discovered and removed. It is now kept separately in a box in storage.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Shrunken heads were not just myth, but a real practice of certain tribes, used for spiritual and ceremonial purposes.

• Jeremy Bentham, a prominent philosopher, requested that his body be preserved and displayed in a sitting position after his death.

• The auto-icon, as it is called, includes a real skeleton, preserved clothing, and a wax sculpture of Bentham's head.

• The auto-icon can be viewed at the University College of London.