tcb,

those two paragraphs are two distinct points of information that are 
related to the fact that many U.S. museums tend to serve a narrow 
audience. obviously the presence or absence of a museum dress code does 
not _determine_ attendance.

However, an intern applicant might be anyone IF they think they are 
welcome to apply. the larger question there is: would they think the 
museum is FOR them? the demographic data indicate who considers the 
museum to be theirs.

I have worked with volunteers who were college students as well as 
those who were retired doctors and architects (for example), among a 
range of persons of ages and backgrounds in between. I think the larger 
question is: how diverse are the socio-cultural backgrounds of the 
persons who are volunteering?

Thus the question of demographics in relation to the socio-cultural 
audience of the museum and the interpretive/narrative intent of the 
museum as a whole.

-L.D.

('murkins' was coined by William Safire, but what is a 'dirty Slayer 
t-shirt'?)


On Nov 29, 2005, at 12:50 PM, Tim Bonow wrote:

> While it may be a sad fact that museum attendance is not typically in 
> direct correlation with community demographics, it is a stretch to 
> suggest that dress codes (implicit or as a matter of policy) are at 
> fault.  That is like saying that the army's uniform is responsible for 
> the United States' involvement in Iraq.
>
> Interns are students, learning how to behave in the museum world.  
> Dressing appropriately is necessary for acceptance in the real world 
> (as opposed to the world of stereotypical conformist "murkins [sic]"). 
>  Don't believe it? Go ahead and show up to your next job interview in 
> a dirty Slayer t-shirt.
>
> tcb
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On 
> Behalf Of L Dewey
> Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2005 9:59 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] intern dress question
>
> ahhh, but you've put you're finger on a key problem with museums in the
> U.S.
>
> Isn't it the case that many museums and cultural organizations function
> as 'country clubs', not to promote inclusion or cultural diversity?
> This whole discussion about 'dress code' is about a 'code' that belongs
> to the upper middle class. (As well as a matter of 'conformity', which
> is another contemporary 'murkin' cultural trait.)
>
> According to the data collected by the NEA and by the US Census bureau,
> U.S. museums mainly attract an upper middle class audience, which is
> very unfortunate, but hardly a coincidence.
>
> - L.D.

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