On Feb. 24, 1996 John Chadwick wrote: >I have been enjoying this discussion because I think it really >shows how much >the role of museums in society has changed, as well as how >much we really >haven't changed with time. >I was really struck by Julia's statement of "inculcation of the >middle-class >ideal to the masses" perception, something that really is a >hold over from the >19th century. Museums grew and flourished in the 19th >century (at least in >parts of Europe) because museums were viewed as a way to >give the "unwashed >masses" a taste of culture. At the risk of sounding cynical, >don't we still do >that to some degree even in the 1990's. Maybe not overtly, >but certainly in our >desire to serve society. And we are serving a society that >cannot agree on what >our cultural stories are or should be. >I like the idea that museums are moving towards being >venues where all of >society has a voice, but it seems to me, as others have >mentioned, that giving >voice is not the same as outright endorsement. We really >walk a fine line in >the preparing exhibits, and it is a fine line separating various >viper filled >pits. We must give voice without sacrificing good scholarship, >appease donors >who may not like controversy, entertain and educate those >who come through our >doors and visit our displays, and continue to justify our >existence and value >to legislative bodies. Not an easy task at all. >This whole discussion has been great! >--john chadwick >[log in to unmask] I think that John Chadwick has it right. One of the great things which can occaisionally happen on Museum-L is that someone like John will come along and tie-up the elements of a debate into an eloquent summary. This would have been a rather nice place for this thread to end. Instead we have seen Mr. Haberstich wade into the thread today with a mixture of thoughts, polemics, and personal invectives. To passionately argue one's thoughts & feelings in an honest and open debate is one thing, to launch personal attacks against those who have divergent views is quite another. On Feb. 27, David Haberstich wrote: >Enough. I think I've already dignified such blatant nonsense >too much by bothering to disagree with it. snip >Richard Perry, I think you have an attitude problem. snip >I'm curious--why would someone with a pessimistic, >deterministic, bigoted attitude about museums WANT to be >on a museum listserv? --David Haberstich I look forward to seeing Mr. Haberstich's continued contributions to Museum-L on a wide variety of topics - his is a sometimes thoughtful and provocative voice and such voices are stimulating and can serve the discussion. I invite him, however, to "Chill" the personal rhetoric and to keep the conversation within the realms of discussion and debate. Dave David Harvey Conservator of Metals & Arms Colonial Williamsburg Foundation P.O. Box 1776 Williamsburg, VA 23187-1776 USA voice: 804-220-7039 e-mail: [log in to unmask]