I would also agree that this thread is on topic for this list, even though each and every post does not directly connect the dots between the topic of ID/Evolution to museum practice. The question about sit-coms can be quite relevant in a museum, such as mine, whose collection and exhibition of artifacts from famous sitcoms are among our most popular. Is it possible that a discussion of sit-coms, evolution, art history, dec-arts, and other content areas can stray so far from a connection to museum practice that it is no longer worthy of the list? Absolutely, but from the reaction to your message, we don't seem to have exhausted list participants' interest in the topic and its relevance to museum practice just yet.
There is one issue I have not seen raised on this list. However, I have only re-joined after years of absence and could have missed it. I checked the archives and could not find it and infact re-joined the list hoping this issue was being discussed.
In the Noteworthy section of the May/June issue of Museum News there was a subsection entitled Museums of Biblical Proportions which discussed three museums inspired by biblical scholarship. The last one was a small feature (paragraph really) on the "Answers in Genesis Creation Museum" in Petersburg, Kentucky," an avowedly creationist (not ID) museum. According to the paragraph they will have all the trappings of a Natural History Museum including a planetarium, dinosaur models (interacting with humans according to the museum's web site) and a special effects theater which will "simulate the feeling of a dinosaur's breath on the back of spectators necks and the first raindrops at hte begining of the flood..."
I have no problem with this institution's existing. It is a free country and if you can raise money for a museum, build it, and get people to show up, then more power to you.
What I find troubling is the implicit endorsement from the museum community that comes with even the briefest mention in our most widely circulated professional periodical.
Among the many code of ethics the AAM espouses that are pertinent to this discussion are that "programs are founded on scholarship and marked by intellectual integrity"
A healthy debate on what scholarship is and isn't would be welcome, but starting with a presumed conclusion and lining up facts to fit would fit only hte loosest of all possible definitions.
Shouldn't we want more from our professional organs than a tepid recitation of gee-whiz technology when reporting on a controversial new museum. Judging from this quote from their website they are explicitly hostile to all other museums but themselves, so why didn't Museum News present a more complete picture?
"Perhaps you’ve already visited secular natural history museums lately, and seen the popular ‘Lucy’ exhibits (see 'Ape-woman' statue misleads public: anatomy professor) and the elaborate dinosaur-to-bird exhibits. Just this year, London’s Natural History Museum hosted a Dino-Bird exhibit that indoctrinated millions of impressionable children in this false history about the origin of birds. " (see http://www.answersingenesis.org/museum/docs/031215_antimuseum.asp)
Is anyone else troubled by this?
Matthew White
Director, hands On Science Center
National Museum of American History
-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Janzen <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Jun 29, 2005 12:54 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] For those interested in evolution, ID and sitcoms
Thanks Stefanie,
I always advise people who want to know why ID and the Discovery Institute
are so dangerous and mindlessly backward to check out their websites. The
site filled with Dembski's inane ramblings is also good for a laugh. Google
"Christian dominionism" as well, since they are very closely linked. I too
am a strong proponent of simply deleting a post I am not interested in,
rather than allowing it to bother me or waste my time.
I have always thought the highest form of professional life would be to
embrace one's profession, to learn as much as possible and to contribute as
much as possible, and to work to make sure that it grows and improves over
time. As far as I am concerned, that is the central purpose of this and all
the other museum lists out there; to help us all do exactly that. We are
all evolving as professionals just by engaging the conversation(s).
However, I am not just a museum professional. I am a son, brother, friend,
coworker, historian, anthropologist, Garfield(tm) fan, PC game fanatic, and
lover of all information scientific or spiritual. I am not about to ignore
challenges to my beliefs or my profession just because others prefer to
bypass the topics or do not agree.
Personally, I would be more than happy to disagree that sitcom television
is dead. Whether it should die is another matter. There are dozens of
sitcoms currently in production, as well as a massive resurgence of
syndication in progress. They are even making old sitcoms into movies,
albeit bad(very, very, horrifyingly bad) movies. I will have to go see the
new Dikes of Hazard movie, for no other reason than I spent so many hours
watching it as a kid. I suspect sitcoms will make an even bigger comeback
when reality tv finally dies the death it so richly deserves. As critical
elements and reflectors/creators of popular culture and American social
history, sitcoms will be important elements in museum exhibitions for many
generations. I have already seen several exhibitions about the topic,
including materials at the Smithsonian. I doubt highly that the topic is
going to go away any time soon. It also happens to be a recurring theme in
contemporary art, and therefore particularly relevant to my current
position.
Everyone have a safe 4th.
Mark Janzen
Registrar/Collections Manager
Edwin A. Ulrich Museum of Art
Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection
Wichita State University
(316)978-5850
Stefanie T Rookis
<[log in to unmask]>
Sent by: Museum To
discussion list [log in to unmask]
<[log in to unmask] cc
SE.LSOFT.COM>
Subject
For those interested in evolution
06/29/2005 10:40 AND Intelligent Design . . .
AM
Please respond to
Museum discussion
list
<[log in to unmask]
SE.LSOFT.COM>
http://www.discovery.org/csc/
http://www.designinference.com/
still, I maintain even my contributions to this thread are inappropriate
for Museum-L, but since only one side of the story is given....
when you move past museum issues and into ideology of anything not
directly related to the profession, go to another discussion list or
have a private email exchange, lest there be chaos. i.e. anyone care to
disagree that sitcom television is dead? anyone?
ironically, there are some folks on this discussion list that are not
evolving to a higher professional life form.
thanks to those that gave off-list support and advised I return to
ignoring/deleting the too predictable and extraneous noise machines.
cheers,
Stefanie
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Indigo Nights
Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2005 9:56 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] For those interested in evolution . . .
The Woodstock of Evolution
The World Summit on Evolution, held in the Galapagos
Islands, revealed a science rich in history and
tradition, data and theory, as well as controversy and
debate.
http://cl.exct.net/?ffcd16-fe4f1674706d0d757012-fe2616707367037f711d78
Indigo Nights
[log in to unmask]
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