Any Day Featuring the Swedish Chef is a Good Day

Where: American History Museum

When: closing January 1, 2020

I went over to American History this week to have a stroll around the "American Stories" space.  I think they're going to swap out some of the older pieces for new acquisitions, so keep your eye out for a new and improved display in 2020.

I took with me a list of "highlights," as I was pressed for time and needed to get in and get out.  Happily, I didn't limit myself to what was on the list, as there's a lot there that I would have described as a highlight that didn't make the list.

There were baseball items, including Willie Mays' hat, glove and shoes, and a baseball from the 1937 All-Star Game, signed by that year's Yankee lineup.  Joe DiMaggio's signature is front and center.

They also have a piece of Plymouth Rock, which might be nothing more than legend.  The Pilgrims landed in 1620, but there's no mention of this specific spot until the 1700s.  Fake news is clearly not a new phenomenon.

But the best thing of all was the original Swedish Chef.  My favorite of the Muppets, then and now, Jim Henson and Frank Oz had to work together to bring him to life.  His culinary chaos never fails to entertain.

Verdict: No show that includes the Swedish Chef will get anything less than an enthusiastic two thumbs up from me!

It Wasn't Just About Us

Where: American History Museum

When: closing July 9, 2019

I don't know about you, but the history classes I had in elementary school (and high school too, for that matter) tended to portray the American Revolution as a stand-alone event, where the underdog colonists defeated the evil British, to establish liberty and justice for all.  Setting aside the fact that the liberty and justice were for a very select few, the war in North America was part of a much larger conflict, the Americans had lots of help from other nations, and the British basically gave up on keeping the colonies because they had bigger fish to fry elsewhere.  Not the sort of story that would go over big on the Fourth of July, but a more realistic picture nonetheless.

The Revolution had its origins in the Seven Years' War of 1756 - 1763.  In that war, the Americans were British subjects and fought with the British against the French.  France lost its land claims in North America and began plotting revenge against the British.

One of the historical items on display in this show is a pistol owned by General Braddock and given to George Washington.  Braddock was killed at the Battle of Monongahela (one of the major North American conflicts of the Seven Years' War), where Washington earned acclaim.  This is part of the reason I'm such a museum geek - here on display is an item that actually belonged to George Washington.  I hate to say it makes history come alive, because that's such a cliche, but it does make long ago events seem much more immediate.

France bided its time, and when the colonists took up arms against the British, they offered their assistance.  "The enemy of my enemy is my friend" was apparently their philosophy, and it worked out for them.  Britain, facing a large number of adversaries, with no allies to assist them, decided after their defeat at Yorktown to pack up and go.

Verdict: This is one of those exhibits at American History that's a bit tucked away.  Take the time to seek this out, as it provides a lot of context to a story you may think you know well.

There's a Lot More Than Peter Rabbit in the Garden

Where: American History Museum

When: closing August 2018

This is a display in the Museum's Library; the day I visited, the whole Museum was pretty quiet, so the Library was empty except for me.  It can be fun to see shows with others, but I really like having lots of space to myself, so this was ideal.

Americans have always been gardeners, whether out of necessity or social status signaling or fun or research.  People have gardened to raise food for themselves, or to show off their beautiful lawns or because they like the feel of the earth between their fingers or because they want to study plants and create new flowers.

I'm happy to say I learned the difference between a botanic garden (a space to practice botany) and an arboretum (a collection of trees).  I was never entirely sure if those were synonyms, but now I know they are not.

I also learned that Michelle Obama was not the first First Lady to face criticism for her White House garden; Eleanor Roosevelt planted a victory garden during WWII, over the objections of the Secretary of Agriculture.  The more gardens, the better, in my view.

Verdict: Informative small show - if you like gardening, this is worth a look.

This Post Brought to You by the Letter T

Where: American History Museum

When: closing July 4, 2018

Since I was at American History anyway, to see the "Religion in Early America" exhibit, I thought I'd give these four display cases a look.  Focused on children's television, they highlight the different purposes of shows geared to kids, from the early years of Howdy Doody and Bozo the Clown, to Bill Nye the Science Guy.

Originally, children's television was all about selling products.  And, let's be honest, it's still about that.  But along the way, some notion of educational value has crept in, so kids can learn counting and letters from Sesame Street, in both English and Spanish, and Bill Nye instilled a love of science in a generation of children.  Since he was on in the 90s, I missed that, much to my chagrin.

Of course, Muppet fan that I am, I thought the best part was seeing Oscar the Grouch (picture above).  He's my favorite of the Sesame Street muppets - so irritable and unpleasant.  Because, let's be honest, a little Grover can go a long way.

Verdict: A fun trip down memory lane.

A Spiritual Marketplace

Where: American History Museum

When: closing June 4, 2018

It's not often I get a chance to visit a new space at the Smithsonian, but I've never been to the Taubman Gallery at American History, so I'm assuming it's new.  It's a nice, airy gallery with changing exhibitions, so I'm sure I'll be back many times in the future.

Colonial America was a place where people of many religions settled: a wide variety of Protestants, Catholics, Jews and Muslims.  Although there were some who wanted to establish a state religion when the United States declared its independence, those who advocated against this idea won out.  So the "spiritual marketplace" as early America was described, continues to this day.

This display has a treasure trove of artifacts and would be worth seeing regardless of your views on religion and religious history.  Among the great things are a church bell made by Revere and Son (he of the midnight ride), an iron cross (loaned by Georgetown University) made from pieces of ships that came to the U.S. in 1634, George Washington's inaugural bible and Thomas Jefferson's bible that he made by cutting out the pieces he liked from several other bibles (he went through the gospels and cut out all the bits with miracles and pasted into his own book the sayings and teachings of Jesus).

Verdict: An informative exhibition in a fine new space.

Carter's Prescient Statement

Where: American History Museum

When: closing March 11, 2018

This is one of those "artifact walls" displays at American History that's probably more informative than entertaining.  I rarely have any company at these exhibits, so I hope some of the curators who clearly put a lot of time into these things see me when I visit.

Solar energy is a way to use a renewable resource to obtain the electricity we all use all day, every day.  During his term in office, President Jimmy Carter installed solar panels on the White House, which President Ronald Reagan subsequently removed.  If the country had continued to research and make use of solar energy throughout the 1980s, we wouldn't be in the climate change predicament we're in today, in my opinion.

One of the solar panels is part of the display, along with a quote from Carter indicating that the panels could be either the beginning of a better way to use the sun to meet our needs, or they could become a museum piece.  All I could do was sigh.

I think Father Drinan was in the photograph of Carter with the solar panels - he would have been a Congressman from Massachusetts at the time; I met him while I worked at Georgetown University - a funny and kind man.

Verdict: Worth a glance if you're in the museum to see a larger exhibit.

The Glory that was Camelot

Where: American History Museum

When: through August 27, 2017

If you'd like a glimpse of what America was like before "the 60s" or if you're a fan of the Kennedys, head over to the American History Museum to see the Richard Avedon photographs of JFK and family.  They were taken just before he was inaugurated, and it's like looking into a time capsule.

The museum is celebrating the 100th anniversary of Kennedy's birth (so is American Art, just by the way - I'll have a review of that show once I've seen it), and it's interesting that they would choose this collection of photographs, over something to do with his Presidency or WWII service.

They were taken just as America was about to step into a new phase; Kennedy was the first of the "Greatest Generation" Presidents, who occupied the White House until Bill Clinton's inauguration in 1992.  So they represent both a look forward for those who saw them in 1961 - looking towards a new generation of leadership, and a look back for us in 2017, who see a time before so many cultural upheavals.

The family is depicted against a plain white background, and one can't help but feel that they were carefully posed.  Both JFK and Jackie Kennedy are carefully looking into the camera, projecting a certain youthful seriousness, as if to say, "Yes, we are very young and glamorous, but we're ready to take on our new responsibilities."

The exception to all this message sending are the photos with Caroline.  She's quite young, and clearly very happy to be with her father.  She looks completely authentic, the way kids do before they learn they have to "smile for the camera."

Verdict: There are only a few photographs, so this won't take very long.  They're in the Presidents exhibit, and you can have a look at Warren Harding's flamboyant pajamas on your way to see them.

Our Robot Overlords

Where: American History Museum

When: through May 21, 2017

Evil hackers are everywhere, and DARPA (a defense group that was one of the creators of the internet) hosted a competition in 2014 to find out if computers could essentially protect themselves from harm.

Several groups set up their computers with anti-hacking code, and then stood back and watched them get attacked by malicious software.  The winner of the competition is the computer pictured here, called Mayhem.  I especially liked the head hanging from the chain in the middle.

You'll notice that there's a monitor to the left - that's playing a video of the competition, which you really need to watch in order to understand why you're looking at this thing.

For the sake of human job security, I'm happy to say that Mayhem lost out to human coders later in the contest.

Verdict: Worth a few minutes of your next trip to American History.

The Dance is the Thing

Where: American History Museum

When: through April 30, 2017

Before I talk about this small display at American History, let me just give you a word of advice.  DO NOT go to American History, Natural History or (I'm guessing) Air and Space until next week.  Just don't do it.

The line to get into American History was long; the only reason I was able to enter in under 15 minutes was because I didn't have a bag to be checked.  I was out yesterday and passed Natural History on my way to the Sackler, and the line was out the door and almost to 12th Street.  Since A&S is always packed, I'm sure it's a nightmare as well.  The combination of Passover, Easter, spring break and nice weather seems to have propelled everyone and his brother to the Mall.  If you need a museum fix, head to the Sackler or African Art.

And it's not just the crowds, it's the stepped-up security as well.  You have to empty your pockets, even if you have no bag, so it takes longer to actually enter.  And, of course, there are plenty of our fellow visitors who can't follow directions, so that adds to the wait.  Again, Sackler and African Art are the way to go - I suppose they'd have a look in a bag, but there's no metal detector, and I just sailed right in.

But, this post is about American History and its display case devoted to ballet, so let's get back to that.  I'm sure the curators were not thinking of politics when they set this up (or perhaps they were, I shouldn't make assumptions...), but this is a lovely reminder of the value of allowing immigrants into the United States and welcoming all talented people into the art world, whether they "look the part" or not.

Costumes of Misty Copeland (first African American woman to be named principal dancer at the American Ballet Theater), Marianna Tcherkassky (Russian/Japanese immigrant) and Violette Verdy (French immigrant) were on display.  Where would ballet be without immigrants?  Why shouldn't we see the best dancers, regardless of race or ethnicity?

Verdict: If you can get in, have a look at this gentle reminder that not all those who are different are dangerous.

(Adaptive) Technology - Making Our Lives Better

Where: National Museum of American History

When: through March 26, 2017

If you enter the American History Museum from Independence Avenue, the first thing you see is a set of large glass display cases lining the main hallway.  The contents of these cases change periodically, and I believe they're used to highlight the museum's collections; you get a quick idea of what's on offer, and the museum is able to show off more of their holdings.

Two displays on view until tomorrow are on medical technology: one has to do with the artificial heart, and the other shows devices for athletes who have suffered injuries.  I remember well when heart valve replacement was a rare event, and the medical advancements in dealing with heart problems since my grandmother died of heart disease in 1970 are astounding.

I was even more impressed with the stories of athletes who have overcome what could easily have been career-ending injuries to continue to compete.  Lack of limbs has not kept these people off the slopes or the tracks.

Verdict: Great displays to see on your way to larger exhibits.

Rising Up: Hale Woodruff's Murals at Talladega College

Where: National Museum of American History

When: through March 1, 2015

In the East wing of the 2nd floor, a space is reserved for exhibits from the National Museum of African-American History and Culture.  Over the past several years, they have put up about half a dozen different shows, and each has been excellent.  I don't mean good, or interesting or worth the trip; I mean excellent - a cut above the ordinary show.  If this is the caliber of display we can expect when the NMAAHC opens in 2016, we are in for a real treat.  I wish I knew the names of the curators of these shows so I could compliment them by name - whoever you are, you're doing great work.

The current show is an exhibit of murals by Hale Woodruff, a 20th century African American artist.  The colors are wonderful, and each work (there are six in total) is full of action.  There's a sinuous quality to his brushstrokes that gives the pieces a sense of power and strength, and they are large enough that you feel part of the action, even just standing and looking.

This is most true of the first piece, pictured here, The Mutiny, which is a painting of the takeover of The Amistad by the Africans aboard.  Brute force is depicted, not just in the men fighting, but in the waves in the background and the sugarcane that litters the deck.  Woodruff shows the rage of the mutineers, fighting for their freedom from bondage and the terror of the crew, fighting for their lives.  It's a powerful work, both in the subject matter and in the technique used to bring it to life.

The other two painting in the Amistad group are here, along with the three works that make up the "Founding" series; murals depicting the origins of Talladega College.  The vivid color scheme, the sensitive expressions of the principal characters, the sense of action, of lots going on, are present in all of the works.

In addition, others items useful in interpreting the main works and Woodruff's life and work are also on display.  One of them is a Life magazine article, featuring a picture of Woodruff taken by Eliot Elisofon, the subject of a show at the Museum of African Art not long ago.

The curators of this space set a high bar, and they've met it yet again.

Verdict: A very fine exhibit - do not miss.

Marian Anderson: Artist and Symbol

Where: National Museum of American History

When: through September 7, 2014

This is the latest display in the Museum's section devoted to African-American themed exhibits.  I think of this area as a preview of what we can expect when the National Museum of African-American History and Culture opens next year.  I'm really looking forward to having a new museum to visit.

Assuming that everyone is familiar with the story of how the Daughters of the American Revolution refused to allow Marian Anderson to perform at Constitution Hall, I won't go into that in detail.  This ensemble is what she wore when she sang on Easter Sunday at the Lincoln Memorial.  This is the 75th anniversary of the concert, which one cannot help but see as foreshadowing Martin Luther King's speech at the same site years later.

It's a lovely skirt and jacket - one realizes that she was not a large woman, looking at her clothes.  One often sees proof of how far we have to go to realize a truly race-blind society, but it's displays like this that remind us of how far we have come.

Verdict: Stop by on your way to see the 1863-1963 show or when you're in the museum to see something else.

American Heroes

Where: National Museum of American History

When: through June 2, 2014

Although over 110,000 Japanese-Americans were interned during World War II, more than 33,000 young Japanese-American men served in the U.S. armed forces during the conflict.  It's amazing to me that someone would risk one's life for a country that had imprisoned his family, but that's what these men did.

Japanese-Americans served in the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the Military Intelligence Service. This Congressional Gold Medal was presented to them in 2010, 65 years after the war ended.  It is the highest civilian award in the United States.

Although I was glad that this medal was awarded, I couldn't help but think, "too little, too late."  By 2010, many of those men would have died.  I wondered, did each of them get a medal, or was this a group award?  I hope they each got one.

Verdict: If you're in the museum anyway, it will only take a few minutes to check this out.  I combined this with a look at Marian Anderson's outfit.

Gymnast Gabrielle Douglas

Where: National Museum of American History

When: through April 2, 2014

If you're on your way to the 2nd Floor, East Wing to see any of the exhibits in that area, take a few minutes to see this display case of items belonging to Gabby Douglas, the young African-American gymnast.  She was the first US gymnast to win both the individual all-around gold medal and to be part of a gold medal winning team in the same Olympics.

"The field of sports is a powerful lens on American democracy" is a quotation from the wall notes, and it's quite true.  When all people participate in sports, regardless of their background, it is often an indication that there is or will be greater participation in all aspects of American life for groups that have been excluded.  Don't think that sports aren't important to the advancement of society.

This is a small display, and one assumes that it may be part of a larger show on African-Americans and sports in the new museum that's slowly emerging from the construction site next door to American History.  Next year is when it's due to open, and it will be great to have a new destination for lunch time excursions!

Verdict: Unless you're a great fan of gymnastics, this probably doesn't merit a trip all on its own, but you can easily add it on to a trip to see another show at American History.

Gift of the Artist: Photographers as Donors

Where: National Museum of American History

When: through February 29, 2012

This is the latest of the Archives Center's exhibits and occupies their two display cases.  I've waxed rhapsodic about this little alcove of quiet enough in earlier posts, so I'll forgo that this time.

The photographs in this display are recent gifts to the archives from the photographers themselves.  One of the donors is Jonathan Singer, a podiatrist turned photographer.  He used to photograph orchids and received national attention for his work.  Now, he has turned his efforts to guitars, and one of his guitar photos is on display.

Fernando Sandoval is another donor, a DC photographer.  The photos he donated are of downtown DC in the 1980s and early 1990s.  I find the history of this area, where my office is located, fascinating.  In his pictures, it looks seedy and rundown, not a part of town in which one would wish to spend any time.  This is absolutely accurate - downtown was a place you hurried through to get to somewhere nicer.  Now, of course, that part of town is lovely.  I feel comfortable walking there anytime, even in the evenings - lots of activity (legal activity, I should stipulate), restaurants, shops, etc.  How times have changed!

Verdict: I saw this exhibit with the Toys display - an easy way to spend a short period of time.  You could combine this with another show in the museum - sadly, Julia Child's kitchen is closed for renovation, but there's lots else to see.

Toys from the Attic

Where: National Museum of American History

When: through February 2, 2012

Beginning in the early 19th century, middle class children no longer needed to work to help support their families, allowing them time for school and play.  There grew a large market for toys, which mimicked adult work: house cleaning implements, dolls and tools.  One of the toys on display is the "Little Embroiderer" which reminded me of the many beading kits I've seen in children's toy catalogs today.

The 19th century also marked the time when Christmas became a time for gift-giving, so if you're upset with the crass commercialization of the holiday, be aware this is not a recent phenomenon.  On display was a photo of a boy with a (toy?) rifle, which of course brought to mind "A Christmas Story."  I very much enjoyed seeing the game "Trusts & Busts or Frenzied Finance" - there's a game that could make a comeback!

The exhibit is in one of display cases by the Constitution Avenue entrance, what the museum calls its "Artifact Walls."  It's quite small and is not only easily seen in a lunch hour, you can see something else in addition.

Verdict: Worth seeing if you're on your way to the museum for something else and have a few extra minutes - not stunning enough to merit a trip on its own.

Three exhibits at American History

I use a page at the Smithsonian website to keep me informed of when exhibits are closing, and every so often, I'll discover that a show is closing very soon that I haven't seen posted before.  Whether this is because I don't check the page every day and miss postings from time to time, or because the museums decide to close things without much notice, it's always a bit disconcerting to find out that something's leaving in just a few days, and I have to fit in a trip pronto.

This happened recently with three exhibits at the American History Museum, and I set out to see them all in one lunch hour.  This worked because two of the exhibits were fairly small and the other was something I'd seen before.  Not my favorite way to see things, but at least I didn't miss them entirely.  All three of these exhibits are closing on January 8, 2012.

Robots on the Road: Stanley

 
The vehicle pictured here can navigate for itself, without any human intervention whatsoever.  It isn't remote controlled by a remote person - it's not controlled at all.  It's a Volkswagen Touareg that was modified for participation in the DARPA Grand Challenge in 2005.  This contest took place in the desert near Las Vegas.  The purpose was to test the feasibility of automatic driving.  Although we're not quite ready to give the controls over to robots,  I've seen commercials for cars that can parallel park themselves, so perhaps the days of truly "smart" cars are not so far away.

HIV and AIDS Thirty Years Ago

Yet another exhibit at the American History Museum about HIV/AIDS, and again, no reference to the other items on display.  At this point, the other exhibits may well have been taken down, but I'm still shaking my head over the lack of coordination here.  Surely, anyone interested in one of these displays would be interested in all of them?  Why make it so difficult for visitors to find things?

This exhibit highlights the early years of the AIDS crisis, 1981-1987.  There was not only prejudice against gay people during that time; there was also a lack of interest or concern about the fact that so many people were dying.  Of course, that all changed when HIV/AIDS started to make its way into the straight population.  Just as with the other exhibits I've seen lately, it brings at all back: the fear, the horrible treatment of gay people, the religious bigotry.  Things are far from perfect today, but they're so much better than they used to be.

Bon Appetit! Julia Child's Kitchen at the Smithsonian

Have no fear; Julia's kitchen is not closing permanently.  It will only be off view temporarily while the west wing of the Museum's first floor is renovated.  It's a tremendously popular exhibit - any time I walk past, there are always people watching the video that plays continuously, peering in to see the kitchen itself, or comparing her cookbook collection with their own.

It's not possible to overstate Julia's influence on 20th century American cooking - if you have your choice of fresh mushrooms at the grocery store - thank her.

I'll be eager to see what the new and improved 1st floor west wing looks like when it reopens in late summer 2012, in time, one hopes for Julia's 100th birthday on August 15th.

Verdict: All of these are well worth seeing before they close next Sunday - you can even do them all at once!

Invention at Play

Where: National Museum of American History

When: through November 27, 2011

The subject of this show is invention's relationship to play, how inventors play around or tinker with ideas to come up with their inventions.   The first thing I noticed was something called "27 scraps of paper" by Arthur Ganson - it reminded me of an exhibit I saw many years ago at the Hirshhorn (prepare for weirdness) that involved picking up pieces of paper and dropping them on the floor.

The next case was a description of how a set of inventors at a company came up with a better baby stroller - interesting to see how they decide what features to add and subtract.  I also found out that Kevlar was invented by a woman, Stephanie Kwolek, who worked as a chemist at Dupont in the 1960s.  Alexander Graham Bell was also highlighted, and I found out he had what he called a "dreaming place"- the edge of a bluff in Ontario, Canada.

I confess I didn't really spend a lot of time in this exhibit.  It was filled with noisy kids, which is perfectly understandable, given the subject matter and the fact that much of the items were interactive.  Still, my tolerance for the rambunctious is limited, and I decided to beat a hasty retreat before I reached the end of my admittedly short rope.


Verdict: A great place to go with kids, but something the person looking for a bit of quiet reflection can safely miss.

Frank Kameny

Where: National Museum of American History

When: through January 16, 2012

Frank Kameny, who died recently, was a gay rights activist.  He was fired from his government position in 1957 because he was gay, and this led him to speak out against discrimination towards gays and lesbians.  Three of the posters he carried in demonstrations during the 1960s are on display in the cases close to the Mall Entrance.

Again, I was struck as I looked at these posters that there were no references to the AIDS quilt panel in the Constitution Avenue cases or to the Archives exhibition.  Puzzled, I thought that someone interested in one item would be interested in all three, and it would make a good lunchtime trip.  Then, I happened to read an article in the Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/hideseek-smithsonian-officials-look-back-at-what-went-wrong/2011/11/16/gIQAVkp8oN_story.html, which explained that, in an effort to avoid the unpleasantness surrounding last year's Portrait Gallery exhibit, Hide/Seek, the museum deliberately divided the exhibits, putting the AIDS quilt panel in a more prominent place, and the archives exhibit, which has some material that some might find objectionable (gasp, a condom) in what the article describes as a "less trafficked area." Of course, any child too young to be told about condoms would have zero interest in the archives exhibit, as it contains no bells or whistles, but I guess that's beside the point.

I also found out that the Hide/Seek exhibit is now in a museum in Brooklyn.  If you live in that area, do check this out.  The controversial video has been restored to the show, so you can actually see more than what was available to us in DC.  It will be traveling to Tacoma, Washington, so those of you on the West Coast have that to anticipate.

Verdict: Go see these posters, and check out the AIDS quilt and archives exhibit - easily manageable in a lunch hour.

For All The World To See: Visual Culture and the Struggle for Civil Rights

Where: National Museum of American History

When: through November 27, 2011

This show highlights the impact and importance of visual images in the way that African Americans were portrayed prior to the civil rights movement and how imagery was used during the movement to show the American public what was happening in the South.

As you enter the exhibit, you can hear Paul Robeson singing "Ol' Man River" from Showboat.  There are several examples of African American portraiture on display, which reminded me of the exhibit I saw (in the same space) on African American portrait studios.

Much of the imagery in the first part of the show is quite derogatory to African Americans, as well as to women.  I realize that anti-women sentiments are not the focus of the show, but I could not help but notice.

Take This Hammer, a 1963 documentary was playing further along in the exhibit.  It shows James Baldwin talking to several young men, who believe that a black man will never be President of the United States.  Baldwin remonstrates with them, telling them that if they have this attitude, their prediction will prove true.  It was the only time I smiled in the entire exhibit; I can only hope that all of those  young men were alive to see the 2009 inauguration.  There was also some film footage of Jackie Robinson's first game in the major leagues.

There is a notice at the front of the exhibit warning people that the imagery is quite graphic and unpleasant.  This is absolutely true.  The most awful picture there is of Emmit Till, after his gruesome murder.  Although this photograph was never published in mainstream American newspapers, it was published in African American newspapers and served to galvanize resistance to the Jim Crow laws of the South.

Verdict: This exhibit is very well done and very important, especially as the civil rights era moves further into the past.  It is not a show, in my opinion, for young children.  The images depicted are quite disturbing, so if you go, and you should, be prepared.