Reply to John Strand,
I think that your comments were right on, and Ann Mintz's article in
Museum News states the position correctly.  Your querry about the place
in the continuum for Sea World is interesting.
They have living collections, and a conservation message.  They fill a
different niche than does "the magic kingdom"
 
Tom Krakauer
Museum of Life and Science, Durham, NC
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On Wed, 11 Jan 1995, John Strand wrote:
 
> Ann Mintz, director of special projects and planning at Orlando Science
> Center, has written the cover article for the November/December Museum
> News, entitled "That's Edutainment: Museums Meet The Entertainment
> Business." She points out some of the problems and opportunities that
> arise when the once clear differences between museums and the
> entertainment industry, such as the Disney-owned theme parks, begin to
> disappear. She argues that education/entertainment is a false
> dichotomy, and that museum visitors seek the intersection of the two. She
> also points out that the irreplaceable resource of collections supporting
> educational goals is what has always distinguished museums, and gives them
> their unique place in society.
>
> Not to say that "Pirates of the Caribbean" isn't a fun time, and doesn't
> have its place. It's not likely to be confused with the experience of
> standing before, say, a Tiepolo. The distinction between the for-profit
> Sea World's exhibit on manatees and an exhibit at your local natural
> history museum, however, is not so clear. And therein lies part of the
> problem.
>
> John Strand
> Editor/Publisher
> Museum News
>