In a message dated 8/10/2004 10:35:24 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

<< People are
 not rejecting museums because of the admission fee. It is just they can see
 most of the things free without having to go into a museum. >>

It's possible that viewing images on the Internet, TV, and in the form of
other surrogates could make some people decide they don't need to see the "real
thing," but I can cite many examples of the opposite effect.  People visit the
National Museum of American History to see Judy Garland's ruby slippers even
though they've seen them on the movie or TV screen--in fact, it's clear that
they ask to see them PRECISELY because they've already "seen" them on the
screen.  The hordes of people who crowd to see the Mona Lisa in the Louvre do so
BECAUSE they've seen reproductions (not because they've read Leonardo's
notebooks, either).  And they'll even pay to see the "real" props used in the "Titanic"
movie--which they've already viewed on the screen.

Museums have lots of competition nowadays.  Movies and theme parks are bigger
than ever, and it's difficult for museums to lure people who go out away from
them.  On the other hand, TV (which is bigger than ever) and the Internet are
keeping a lot of people in the house.

David Haberstich

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