Very true, I do not get the sense that is really a religious issue. I am
unaware of any faiths that treat ghosts as sacred or otherwise. Spirits,
angels, etc. yes, ghosts no. It is just that the belief in ghosts is
similar to other beliefs that can not be substantively proven, and are
based on hearsay and subjective observation.
Certainly, they should do so. As noted before, ghosts are popular culture,
as are Civil War re-enactments and wild west demonstrations. I do not think
there is anything unethical about using such stories to engage and even
excite your visiting pubic. However, if you are just making stuff up to
give yourself something to talk about on a tour, then I would say "bad
tourguide", and send them to the corner.
I have begun to wonder if all the hype about ghosts and particularly ghost
hunting is less the result of growing "belief" but rather curiosity. Are we
really seeing a rise in the number of people who truly believe ghosts
exist, or a rise in the number of people who are bored enough to watch such
shows and drive up their ratings. Perhaps a study is in order.
Mark Janzen
Registrar/Collections Manager
Edwin A. Ulrich Museum of Art
Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection
Wichita State University
(316)978-5850
"Verlag Dr. C.
Mueller-Straten"
<VERLAGCMS@T-ONLI To
NE.DE> [log in to unmask]
Sent by: Museum cc
discussion list
<[log in to unmask] Subject
SE.LSOFT.COM> Re: Ghosts at historic sites
09/03/2005 07:45
AM
Please respond to
Museum discussion
list
<[log in to unmask]
SE.LSOFT.COM>
Dear James, dear Mark,
Yes, all this wide-spread material of the so-called History or Sci-Fi
channel is the the source of growing belief in ghosts worldwide. The
presented material is very cleverly sold to many countries, also to
Germany. But I repeat, it is part of the political machinery. To my
knowledge, no larger religious community is somewhow interested in ghosts.
And there seems to any an ethical level in this discussion too:
Should museum staff really do "ghost tours" to increase income or visitor
figures?
Regards
Christian Müller-Straten
"James Schulte" <[log in to unmask]> schrieb:
> The History Channel has shown many,I guess all those shows on there are
> bogus
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf
> Of Mark Janzen
> Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2005 10:05 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Ghosts at historic sites
>
>
> Ghosts and hauntings are pure popular culture, as well as the bread and
> butter of numerous historic sites and facilities. That is exactly why
there
> are so many shows on tv and elsewhere. People eat it up. Consider that
most
> of them air on the Sci-Fi channel.
>
> I do not personally believe in them, never having seen any evidence
capable
> of convincing me of the existence of anything metaphysical. I often
wonder
> if our visiting public truly believes in such things, or if they are just
> running off of the hype and the stories. Perhaps they are lumping them in
> with angels and devils as similar metaphysical and unproveable beings.
Most
> of the time I doubt people ever really consider it at all.
>
> I know several people who say they believe in ghosts, but who do not
claim
> to have seen any, which I find confusing. Ghosts appear to be similar if
> not identical in psychological form to UFOs and miracles. If you are
> convinced you have seen one or the other, then you have substantive
doubts
> that need to be addressed, but otherwise it is a matter of pure
> opinion/belief.
>
> I am however totally open to any form of substantive proof.
>
> Very interesting. Makes me wonder if ghosts can swim, because I know
> several places in New Orleans that are haunted to the gills. Opinions?
>
> Mark Janzen
> Registrar/Collections Manager
> Edwin A. Ulrich Museum of Art
> Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection
> Wichita State University
> (316)978-5850
>
>
>
> Elizabeth
> Caldwell
> <lizmaekate@HOTMA
To
> IL.COM> [log in to unmask]
> Sent by: Museum
cc
> discussion list
> <[log in to unmask]
Subject
> SE.LSOFT.COM> Re: Ghosts at historic sites
>
>
> 09/01/2005 08:27
> AM
>
>
> Please respond to
> Museum discussion
> list
> <[log in to unmask]
> SE.LSOFT.COM>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> <i>Sorry, but there are no ghosts. Museum interpretation work has nothing
> to
> do with (TV) nonsense.</i>
>
> Yet another biased comment that has no business being in the Museum
world.
>
> (Long time lurker) If the people, aka the public, aka the people who
come
>
> to the museum, are interested in a subject, then yes, the subject should
be
>
> addressed no matter your PERSONAL views upon it. Museums are supposed
to
>
> present objective information on the subjects that interest the public.
> Now, of course, what you don't want to do is have a few "psychics"
running
>
> through the house/building/museum. Instead, approach it as you would any
> other subject. Write up a full history of the previous owners, anyone
who
> died mysteriously in or around the house, and eye witness accounts. The
> museum/house might want to adopt and write up a policy that they do not
> either believe nor disbelieve in the paranormal and add that to exhibit.
> That, at the very least, should give you a good start.
>
> Sincerely,
> Elizabeth
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >From: "Verlag Dr. C. Mueller-Straten" <[log in to unmask]>
> >Reply-To: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Re: Ghosts at historic sites
> >Date: Thu, 1 Sep 2005 09:08:00 GMT
> >
> >Dear Marilynn,
> >
> >Sorry, but there are no ghosts. Museum interpretation work has nothing
to
> >do with (TV) nonsense.
> >
> >Best regards
> >
> >
> >Christian Mueller-Straten
> >
> >
> >"Marilynn Havelka" <[log in to unmask]> schrieb:
> > > We are receiving a number of requests from companies or individuals
> > > interested in doing stories on ghosts at our historic house or
> >clairvoyants,
> > > or those interested in doing seyonces (sp?). Also it is one of the
most
> > > frequently asked questions from individuals on tour.
> > > I would like to know what other sites, museums etc. do to accommodate
> >the
> > > above or do you discourage it. Do you incorporate it into the
> >programming,
> > > encourage discussion or allow filming for same.
> > >
> > > I welcome any feedback!
> > >
> > > Thank you
> > >
> > >
> > > Marilynn Havelka,
> > > Chief Administrative Officer
> > > Ruthven Park National Historic Site
> > > 243 Hwy. #54, Box 610, Cayuga, ON
> > > Canada N0A 1E0
> > > Tel: 905.772.0560
> > > Fax: 905.772.0561
> > >
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> >--
> >Verlag Dr. Christian Müller-Straten / MUSEUMS AGENTUR
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(In Diskussionslisten steht "CMS" für Dr. Christian Müller-Straten)
Kunzweg 23, 81243 München, T. 089-839 690 43, Fax -44
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