Nigel, If I might add to Barbara Winter's suggestion: Linda Hutcheon in her book _Irony's Edge: The Theory and Politics of Irony_ (Routledge, 1994) discussed the ROM exhibit "Into the Heart of Africa" (thanks to whoever it was who corrected me on this one). Her chapter seven, "The End(s) of Irony: The Politics of Appropriateness" discussed the exhibit in terms of its use of irony. She points out that irony is a trope which has been used successfully by feminist and gay and lesbian scholars among others as a "radical diversion from the dominant ideology." However, the trope did not work in the ROM's exhibit. She points to some flaws in the exhibit itself which were part of the problem but then begins to question whether irony was and is an appropriate trope to use anymore. It is a very good discussion and a nice critique of the exhibit. Hutcheon also has an extensive bibliography which includes what I suspect are pretty well all of the published sources on the exhibit. A student at the University of Toronto wrote her MA thesis on the exhibit. The Uof T does not, I think, lend theses, but someone at the ROM may be able to get you a copy if you are interested. Grant McCracken, of the ROM's ethnology division has been on this list in the past, as has Julia Matthews, the ROM's head librarian but I do not know whether they are monitoring this discussion. Either of them may be able to help you or could probably put you in touch with someone who can. I have Julia's email address if you are interested. Hope this helps. Eileen Mak [log in to unmask] XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Eileen Mak | With a little monetary incentive and Dept. of History | some mental antacids, Mass Culture America UBC | can consume anything. [log in to unmask] | Barry Alfonso, "The Beat Generation," 1992 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX On Tue, 3 Oct 1995, Barbara Winter wrote: > This is discussed briefly by Michael Ames in ' Cannibal Tours and Glass > Boxes', 1992 - sorry I don't have the complete ref. here. > > > >> Perhaps of equal or greater relevance for your purposes as a case > >> study would be the experience a few years ago of Janine Cannizzo and the > >> Royal Ontario Museum. They had prepared an exhibition "Out of Darkest > >> Africa". The exhibition was cancelled after pressure from the black > >> community in Toronto. > >> > >> The theme of the exhibition was 19 century white > >> attitudes to Africa as demonstrated by the artifacts whites brought back > >> from Africa. Obviously such an exhibition had to deal with racism, but > >> to accuse Janine and the ROM themselves as racist because they were > >> mounting an exhibition dealing with racism was arrant nonsense. > > > > > >Indeed - and I'd love to find out more about it. Do you have any > >details or could you give me her (or anyone else's) addresses - e- > >mail or otherwise? Many thanks > > > > > > > >Nigel Worden > >History Department, University of Cape Town > >phone: 021-650-2954 / 021-650-2741 > >fax: 021-650-4038 > >e-mail: [log in to unmask] > > > > > > ______________________________________________________ > > Barbara J. Winter, Curator tel: (604) 291-3325 > Department of Archaeology fax: (604) 291-5666 > Simon Fraser University email: [log in to unmask] > Canada V5A 1S6 > > _____________________________________________________ >