I have been following the discussions regarding exhibition censorship in the US with interest, ie; enola gay, flags. I don't know if museums here in Australia or NZ have ever faced similar dilemas, I am only aware of one (tippy toeing around sponsors delicate sensibilities). At the Museum of Victoria we are embarking on a new museum project with the development of programs begining to ferment. I would be interested to hear from anyone in this hemisphere who has felt pressure to "smooth out"a program. Also if this is trend of the future how can we prepare to deal with it? freedom of speech policies, etc? I don't know if the perceived lack of controversy here means we are less insistant on a dominant narrative for history or that we don't make enough controversial exhibitions. Or maybe I've just had my head in the sand and haven't noticed. Any comments? Cheers Leah Breninger Collection Manager, Social History Museum of Victoria [log in to unmask] ---------- From: owner-museum-l To: Multiple recipients of list MUSEUM-L Subject: Re: enola gay Date: Tuesday, 28 May, 1996 1:05PM Usual disclaimers apply and then some. Having seen the Enola Gay exhibition yesterday, I can only say that the display of "official history" made me sick. The first panel, which says that material about the decision to drop the bomb was removed and that now the artifacts "speak for themselves," was a total crock. Or rather, 50% crock. Interpretive material was indeed removed, but the artifacts hardly "speak for themselves." On the contrary, subsequent text clearly states that the bomb ended the war; that an invasion would have been fiercely resisted, etc. And it leaves no room for dissent. I have no position on the historical issues surrounding the decision to drop the bomb; at any rate, no informed position; which is exactly the point. How can we reach an informed position if debate is suppressed? This is not about whether the Japanese had it coming to them in 1945, nor is it about whether American veterans get enough respect. It's about whether ordinary present-day Americans who go to the Mall can expect to see something more than official mythography. And clearly, the anwer is no. Andy Finch [log in to unmask]