While I agree with your basic argument, David, let's put this into context.
Our culture has long suffered the elitism of the academy (while not every
individual academic is elitist--although some are). I agree it doesn't move
us forward to perpetuate the same in reverse. But have some understanding
(and perhaps compassion) from whence it comes.

jodi



-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of David E. Haberstich
Sent: Wednesday, September 06, 2000 7:58 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Academia vs. Museums


In a message dated 00-09-06 10:53:48 EDT, Chris Dill wrote:

<< Ahhhh!  Here is the very root of the problem.  What IS it to "make their
=
 mark" anyway?  Is it better to write a book or bunch of articles about an =
 obscure subject published in an obscure professional journal in art =
 history, history, archeology, anthropology, etc., or to do research which =
 results in an excellent exhibit which is seen by thousands of people? >>

Ahhhh!  The populist rejoinder!  Chris, there's no need to set up false
polarities or dichotomies and suggest that one is "better" than the other.
Indeed, I thought that this whole thread was about the gulf created by
assumptions that an academic career was somehow superior to a museum career,
with suggestions that some museum folks think their choice is superior (and
you seem to be implying the latter).  No, writing about an "obscure" subject
for an "obscure" professional journal is not "better" than doing research
for
an exhibit to be seen by thousands of people.  But neither do I think
"popular" exhibits are inherently superior to "obscure" scholarship.
They're
just different, that's all.  And some of us like to think that academic
endeavors and museum work can and should be complementary.  To some extent
(and sometimes to a great extent, depending upon the field), museum work
builds upon the foundation established by academics doing their obscure
research and is totally dependent on it.

Are blockbuster movies and professional sports, which delight millions of
people, "better" than "excellent" exhibits in backwater museums which can
attract merely thousands?  Is popularity the criterion?  If so, those of us
in the museum field, where salaries and prestige are low, are wasting our
time and should get into the entertainment industry, which has far greater
relevance in most people's lives

David Haberstich

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