The Diagrammatics of 'Race'

Exploring the evolution of diagrams in anthropology, this book delves into their role as scientific tools for classifying human groups since the eighteenth century. It highlights the use of diagrams in craniometry and the 'human family tree,' which shaped debates on human diversity and species classification. With advancements in DNA analysis, the relevance of these visual representations is reexamined, raising questions about human relatedness and ancestry. Sommer critiques the intersection of these diagrams with racial categorization, imperial ideologies, and contemporary humanist concerns.