Frances Glessner Lee’s dioramas, known as the Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death, portray victims in a highly detailed, miniature crime scene setting that emphasizes both the forensic evidence and the personal context of each death. The victims are depicted with a balance of scientific objectivity and humanizing detail:
- Victims as Objects of Investigation: The bodies in the dioramas are carefully staged to replicate real victims, showing wounds, positioning, and signs of struggle or foul play. This objectification is deliberate, encouraging investigators to analyze the scene methodically without jumping to conclusions
- Humanizing the Victims: Despite their objectification, the victims are portrayed as individuals with lives and circumstances. The dioramas include details that suggest the victim’s social status, lifestyle, and environment-such as worn furniture, scattered personal items, or signs of poverty and isolation. This approach provides a glimpse into who these people were, beyond just their deaths
- Focus on Invisible and Marginalized Victims: Lee often chose to depict victims who were women, poor, or socially marginalized, groups whose cases might otherwise be overlooked or prejudiced in real investigations. This choice highlights her commitment to justice and the recognition of all victims, regardless of their social standing
- Scenes of Domestic and Personal Spaces: Many victims are shown in domestic settings, such as bedrooms or kitchens, emphasizing the intrusion of violence into everyday life. The detailed environments include subtle clues-like an overturned ashtray, a lit lamp with no one present, or scattered letters-that invite close scrutiny and interpretation
- Artistic and Forensic Precision: Lee’s craftsmanship ensured that each diorama was not only a forensic tool but also a work of art. The scenes are meticulously constructed to reflect realistic conditions, including accurate clothing, furniture wear, and environmental details, reinforcing the authenticity of the victims’ portrayal
In summary, Lee’s dioramas portray victims both as forensic subjects to be studied and as individuals with distinct lives and social contexts, combining scientific rigor with empathetic storytelling to train investigators and honor the victims’ stories
