Greetings Rossy!

Happily for you, a graduate student seeking a new take on long-established practices, there are unlikely (m)any (re)sources relating museum gift shops and cafés with Post-Colonial theories of 'the other'.

Besides, it is fair academic method to extrapolate theories in typical post-colonial theory (Homi K. Bhabha, Edward Said, et al.).  The notion of the Americas . . . an 'other' as unspoiled and unused (as if the indigenous peoples were not already here!) . . . with wilderness to be tamed and natural resources to be plundered.  The "noble savage" . . . an 'other' to European "civility."  And more.

I agree with the two previous posters -- Adrienne and Tim.  YOU can become the quotable expert, and this sounds like a novel idea!  Go for it, be bold and brave . . . but make sure you've got the support of your supervisory/thesis committee.

Best wishes, sincerely,

Jay Heuman
Curator of Education
Salt Lake Art Center
 
20 South West Temple
Salt Lake City, UT  84101
Phone: 801.328.4201 x 21
Fax: 801.322.4323
URL: www.slartcenter.org
 
Salt Lake Art Center:
Celebrating 75 Years!
1931-2006



-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rossy Mendez
Sent: Friday, March 24, 2006 8:12 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Thesis Assistance
Hello,
I am a graduate student at the University at Buffalo and i am working on a 
thesis regarding racial and cultural hybridity in the museum. I am having 
difficulty finding sources of information for one of my chapters. The 
chapter is  regarding museum consumption of the Other.I am interested in 
finding any books/articles/essay on museum restaurants and museum shops. My 
idea is that museums restaurants and shops displaying "ethnic" items are 
another way that the museum makes culture digestible and intelligible 
serving as a snapshot of other cultures. Through our purchases and 
consumption  we participate in that culture while not abandoning the comfort 
of our own.
I would appreciate any assistance anyone can offer. Thank you very much for 
your help.
Rossy

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