On Tue, 27 Feb 1996, Richard Perry wrote:
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On Tue, 27 Feb 1996, Eric Siegel wrote:
> This thread gets weirder and weirder: are museums "agents of social
> reproduction?" And if so, what does that mean? And does this tie back
> to the thread about sex in the diorama?
"Museums are agents of social reproduction" means that museums aid in the
perpetuation of the social hierarchy, that the children of working-class
parents end up in working-class jobs while the children of upper-class
parents inherit their positions, as well. Museums are avowed to transmit
knowledge that is useful for circulation within the uppermiddle strata,
and these places are made friendly to those who already "know" what to do
in a museum and are somewhat conversant with the traditions and fetishes
of academic (read "high") art. Same applies to other kinds of museums,
but art museums are the most privileged bastions (perhaps I am thinking
of another word).
Your kinky habits in dioramas are none of my concern.
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Whoa, Richard!
"perpetuation," "inherit positions," "avowed to transmit," "circulation,"
"uppermiddle stratta," "conversant with traditions and fetishes," and "applying
[it all] in privleged bastions!"
Maybe Eric's dioramas fit right in--do you think?!
[Sorry, since I subscribe to the list via "digest," I don't have the convenience
to reply as often as I'd like, but I just couldn't pass this one up! ;-} ]
Best, Jim Cz
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M.J.Czarniecki III Program, Facilities, & Financial
Principal & CEO Planning for Cultural Institutions
S/RI Cultural Planners - - - - - - - - -
123 Farrington Cultural Programming & Planning
Saint Paul MN USA 55102.2101 for Communities
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