"From True Detective to Ace Ventura: Taxidermy in Pop Culture"

Taxidermy has been a part of human culture for centuries, but in recent years it has gained renewed popularity, appearing in a variety of forms in popular culture. From movies and TV shows to music and art, taxidermy has made appearances that reveal something about society's perceptions of the craft. In this blog post, we'll take a look at some of the ways taxidermy has been featured in popular culture and what these appearances say about our fascination with this art form. Whether you're a taxidermist yourself or simply interested in the craft, this post should provide some interesting insights into the role taxidermy plays in our culture.

One of the most iconic uses of taxidermy in popular culture is the opening credits of the HBO series "True Detective," which features a shot of a stag with glowing antlers. The stag, a symbol of the natural world, is displayed in a way that is both beautiful and unsettling, setting the tone for the dark and mysterious show. This use of taxidermy highlights the way it can be used to create a sense of the otherworldly or supernatural.

Taxidermy has also made appearances in music videos, such as in the Arctic Monkeys' "Do I Wanna Know?" which features a taxidermy fox. In this case, the taxidermy serves as a metaphor for a past love that has been preserved but is now out of reach.

In the art world, taxidermy has been used as a medium for commentary on a variety of issues. For example, artist Polly Morgan's "The End" series features taxidermied animals arranged in surreal and unsettling tableaux that comment on the relationship between humans and the natural world.

Taxidermy has even made appearances in fashion, with designers using it to create unique and eye-catching accessories. For example, London-based designer Kate Macdowell has created a line of jewelry made from taxidermied insects, which she cites as a way to bring attention to environmental issues.

In the 1994 comedy film "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective," the titular character, played by Jim Carrey, is a private investigator who specializes in finding missing animals. Throughout the film, there are several instances of taxidermy that play a role in the plot.

One notable example is the taxidermy parrot that Ace finds in the office of the villain, who is using it as a hiding place for a microchip that contains important information. The parrot is mounted in a lifelike pose and is only discovered when Ace realizes that it's not real and begins to poke at it.

Another example is the taxidermy lion that appears in the film's climactic scene. After discovering the villain's secret hideout, Ace is confronted by the lion, which is revealed to be a taxidermy mount that has been rigged to move and attack.

These appearances of taxidermy in "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective" serve to add a humorous and absurd element to the film, as well as to provide plot points and set pieces. The use of taxidermy as a hiding place and as a fake threat adds to the film's comedic tone and helps to propel the story forward.

Overall, the appearances of taxidermy in popular culture reveal that it continues to fascinate and intrigue us. Whether used to create a sense of the otherworldly or to comment on deeper issues, taxidermy has proven to be a versatile and thought-provoking medium.