Recently I went (read: was dragged) to the Ark Encounter museum thing in Kentucky, USA. I didn’t really want to go because for one I’m not Evangelical Christian and for two I’m in a bit of a “period of questioning” in my faith. But honestly overall I ended up enjoying it, so I thought I’d post about it.
Here’s a pic I took of a little bi-coded diorama I saw:
My anxious closeted queer heart stopped when I saw this and how it implies (to my eyes) that the guy in the middle likes both guys and girls. I guess that’s queer rep but it’s also in the exhibit of the pre-food world, meaning they were all evil and died, and I didn’t see any queer rep in after-the-flood exhibits so they’re probably definitely condemning gayness. which kinda hurt but I think it’s really funny because of their mascots:
Their mascots are literally giraffes, and it’s been a while since I checked my facts but I think I read that 60% of all giraffe...love...is gay? So I was kinda hopeful at first that they wouldn’t be homophobic what with that and the rainbow gateway:
If I end up with a girl or a nonbinary person someday I want to get a pic of us kissing under this rainbow right here.
[The photo above isn’t mine, I snatched it off google and I think it’s on the official site. I did take my own pics but the ones without my family in them are too blurry because I tried to take them in secret.]
But then there was “taking back the rainbow” stuff in the gift shop. I’ve seen queerphobic internet trolls use that phrase a bunch. So I felt sad and kinda panicky but I’ll get over it. (Also my dad was looking at a vaguely homophobic rainbow shirt and I would have d i e d if he had bought one but luckily he chickened out.)
Overall, I’d say the whole concept is neat, but the lack of details given in the Genesis flood story meant that most of the Ark Encounter’s exhibits were “educated guesses” and some was entirely fabricated, like the names of all the female characters onboard. That didn’t stop me from appreciating the artistry that went into it though. Honestly the way they did it was a lot like fictional wordbuilding, which is right up my ally so I really enjoyed it. So little is known about the pre-flood civilizations and their technology, or even how the ark was supposedly built, and it was neat to see prevalent hypotheses demonstrated.
In conclusion it was cool if I ignored the homophobia and lack of inclusion for non-Evangelicals and non-Christians who also believe the flood. I liked it a lot more once I suspended my disbelief and treated the whole thing like fiction. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend going and giving them your money but it’s not a horrible experience if you’re forced to go. (Oh, if you get overwhelmed easily bring noise blocking headphones, thank me later)
