I think all exhibits reflect, in some way, the
designers and developers and also the museums in which
they are displayed.  Someone's commitment to one side
or the other- even if it's a "compassionate" or
"moderate" one, I believe, will be there-- even if
subtly.  But how subtle it is or how much the
commitment is shown is determined not only by the
designers and the museum's objective but by whoever is
looking and reading and trying to understand that
exhibit.  The audience will only "see" the exhibit
through their own perspective and understanding.  But,
that's the beauty of museums:  to start a
conversation, to spark imagination and to get people
to think about the world we all live in.


--- bethany rutledge <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Even in the questions that we choose to raise and
> the
> exhibits we choose to mount, do we reveal a
> commitment
> to one side of a "cultural contest" or another.
>
> Just a thought.
>
> --- "Terri McNichol, Ren Associates"
> <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > Hello fellow listers,
> >
> > There is a review of Steven C. Dubin's book titled
> > "Displays of Power:
> > Controversies in the American Museum from the
> Enola
> > Gay to Sensation,
> > published by New York Univ. Press in the magazine
> > America. Tom O'Brien
> > is the reviewer and is formerly of the National
> > Endowment for the
> > Humanities and is now the managing editor of Arts
> > Education Policy
> > Review in Washington DC.
> >
> > One point the reviewer makes is that "in the
> > 'progressive' veiw Dubin
> > represents, museums are either 'crucibles of
> change'
> > or the 'pleasant
> > refuges' of the past. But why either/or? Why can't
> > museums eschew
> > predommitments to change or the status quo, and
> > simply be educational
> > institutions--raising questions, but not
> foreclosing
> > them with
> > prescribed answeres? Are the only options to hype
> or
> > ignore harsh
> > truths--in current lingo, either 'contestation' or
> > 'triumphalism'? Must
> > the culture wars, in short, become one vast
> episode
> > of 'Crossfire,'
> > featuring--'on the left'--half of our national
> > bipolar disorder and--'on
> > the right'--its idelogical twin."
> >
> > What say the listers regarding the above
> statement?!
> >
> > I have the review in hard copy, but if you want to
> > get an electronic
> > copy you can go to www.americapress.org and get a
> > copy for $1.50.
> >
> > Respectfully submitted by
> >
> > Terri McNichol
> > Museum Consultant
> >
> >
>
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=========================================================
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>
> The Museum-L FAQ file is located at
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> obtain detailed information about the listserv
> commands by sending a one line e-mail message to
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If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).