Gowan Dawson

The image of the linear march of apes and hominids ending at a drawing of a “modern man” is one of the most ubiquitous depictions of evolution. It is still often parodied in cartoons. Unfortunately, this is not a scientific illustration of how hominid evolution occurred. When did this trope begin? In this episode of Inquiry, we talk with GOWAN DAWSON. He is professor of Victorian literature and culture at the University of Leicester and honorary research fellow at the Natural History Museum, London. His new book is a fascinating history of scientists and artists : MONKEY TO MAN: THE EVOLUTION OF THE MARCH OF PROGRESS IMAGE.