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