Exhibit considers Nazis' deadly promotion of eugenics
PITTSBURGH -- Adolf Hitler used the theory of eugenics in his quest to create a master race, legitimizing the murder of thousands deemed unfit for the German race and culminating in the genocide of 6 million Jews.
But the idea behind eugenics —- improving a population's health through genetics — was hardly unique to Germany, as shown by a traveling exhibit developed by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., and on display at The Andy Warhol Museum.
"Deadly Medicine: Creating the Master Race" uses 200 photographs, videotaped survivor stories and several dozen artifacts to trace eugenics' development as a perversion of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution to its Nazi justification for genocide.
The exhibit also looks at eugenics in other countries, including Norway, Spain, Brazil, Japan and the United States, where nearly 300 "eugenic sterilizations" were done at Mendocino State Hospital between 1909 and 1935.
Perhaps most chilling is how seemingly easy its noble-sounding goal was twisted. After all, who could argue against improving health? It was Darwin's cousin, Francis Galton, who coined the term eugenics from Greek, meaning "good birth," in 1883.
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But the idea behind eugenics —- improving a population's health through genetics — was hardly unique to Germany, as shown by a traveling exhibit developed by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., and on display at The Andy Warhol Museum.
"Deadly Medicine: Creating the Master Race" uses 200 photographs, videotaped survivor stories and several dozen artifacts to trace eugenics' development as a perversion of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution to its Nazi justification for genocide.
The exhibit also looks at eugenics in other countries, including Norway, Spain, Brazil, Japan and the United States, where nearly 300 "eugenic sterilizations" were done at Mendocino State Hospital between 1909 and 1935.
Perhaps most chilling is how seemingly easy its noble-sounding goal was twisted. After all, who could argue against improving health? It was Darwin's cousin, Francis Galton, who coined the term eugenics from Greek, meaning "good birth," in 1883.