Dear Everyone,

read a good article by Pearce & Moscardo who do a lot of phsychological
research in the area of tourism and heritage.(A little on the older side
now but still a good study). One in particular focussed on the concept of
`authenticity'. It gave evidence to support that although `authenticity'
is of the utmost importance to museum visitors it did not generally mean
what many museologists would describe as `authentic'. The recreated,
somewhat themeparkian experience with objects was as real or dare I say
`more authentic' than experiences with said authentic historic objects
and settings.

What exactly do museum people mean by an authenticity?
What distortions do we invite or grapple with in not only preserving the
object but the more complex issue of preserving its `authenticity'?
Whose version of `authenticity' matters and for what ultimate end does it
matter?

If you have a spare moment I would like to hear from you.
Thanks.

Jennifer.
"Just wondering".