Exhibiting Dilemmas

Exhibiting Dilemmas
Author: Amy Henderson
Publisher: Smithsonian Institution
Total Pages: 361
Release: 2016-06-21
Genre: Art
ISBN: 1588345513

In twelve essays on such diverse Smithsonian Institution holdings as the Hope Diamond, the Wright Flyer, wooden Zuni carvings, and the Greensboro, North Carolina Woolworth lunch counter that became a symbol of the Civil Rights movement, Exhibiting Dilemmas explores a wide range of social, political, and ethical questions faced by museum curators in their roles as custodians of culture. Focusing on the challenges posed by the transformation of exhibitions from object-driven “cabinets of curiosities” to idea-driven sources of education and entertainment, the contributors—all Smithsonian staff members—provide a lively and sometimes provocative discussion of the increasingly complex enterprise of acquiring and displaying objects in a museum setting.

Manual of Museum Exhibitions

Manual of Museum Exhibitions
Author: Barry Lord
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Total Pages: 457
Release: 2014-04-07
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0759122717

All museum activities converge in the public forum of the exhibition – regardless of whether the exhibit is held in the physical museum or is on the Web. Since the first edition of this book in 2002, there has been a world-wide explosion of new galleries and exhibition halls, and new ideas about how exhibitions should look and communicate. The definition of what an exhibition is has changed as exhibitions can now be virtual; non-traditional migratory and pop-up spaces play host to temporary displays; social media has created amazing opportunities for participatory engagement and shifted authority away from experts to the public; and as time-constrained audiences demand more dynamic, interactive, and mobile applications, museum leadership, managers, staff, and designers are rising to these challenges in innovative ways. Drawing on years of experience and top-flight expertise, Barry Lord and Maria Piacente detail the exhibition process in a straightforward way that can be easily adapted by institutions of any size. They explore the exhibition development process in greater detail, providing the technical and practical methodologies museum professionals need today. They’ve added new features and expanded chapters on project management, financial planning and interactive multimedia while retaining the essential content related to interpretive planning, curatorship, and roles and responsibilities. This second edition of the standby Manual of Museum Exhibitions is arranged in four parts: Why – Covering the purpose of exhibits, where exhibit ideas come from, and how to measure success Where – Covering facilities and spaces, going into details including security, and interactive spaces What – A look at both permanent collection displays, and non-collection displays, as well as virtual, participatory, temporary, travelling displays, and retail sales How – Who is involved, planning, curatorship, and content development, design, multimedia, fabrication and installation, financial planning, and project management Over 130 figures and photographs illustrate every step of the exhibit process. No museum can be without this critical, detailed guide to an essential function.

Making Histories in Transport Museums

Making Histories in Transport Museums
Author: Colin Divall
Publisher: A&C Black
Total Pages: 232
Release: 2001-12-20
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0718501063

This book is the first in 30 years to take transport museums seriously as vehicles for the making of public histories. Drawing upon many years' experience of visiting and working in transport museums around the world, the authors argue that the sector's historical roots are more complex than is usually thought. Written from a multidisciplinary perspective but firmly rooted in the practice of making public histories, this book brings the study of transport museums firmly into the mainstream of academic and professional debate.>

Telling Children About the Past

Telling Children About the Past
Author: Nena Galanidou
Publisher: Berghahn Books
Total Pages: 336
Release: 2007-12-01
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1789201845

This book brings together archeologists, historians, psychologists, and educators from different countries and academic traditions to address the many ways that we tell children about the (distant) past. Knowing the past is fundamentally important for human societies, as well as for individual development. The authors expose many unquestioned assumptions and preformed images in narratives of the past that are routinely presented to children. The contributors both examine the ways in which children come to grips with the past and critically assess the many ways in which contemporary societies and an increasing number of commercial agents construct and use the past.

Heritage, Museums and Galleries

Heritage, Museums and Galleries
Author: Gerard Corsane
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 414
Release: 2004-11-10
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1134439636

Bringing the reader the very best of modern scholarship from the heritage community, this comprehensive reader outlines and explains the many diverse issues that have been identified and brought to the fore in the field of heritage, museums and galleries over the past couple of decades. The volume is divided into four parts: presents overviews and useful starting points for critical reflection focuses more specifically on selected issues of significance, looking particularly at the museum's role and responsibilities in the postmodern and postcolonial world concentrates on issues related to cultural heritage and tourism dedicated to public participation in heritage, museum and gallery processes and activities. The book provides an ideal starting point for those coming to the study of museums and galleries for the first time.

Reflections of a Culture Broker

Reflections of a Culture Broker
Author: Richard Kurin
Publisher: Smithsonian Institution
Total Pages: 338
Release: 2014-12-10
Genre: Art
ISBN: 1935623656

Is culture brokered like stocks, real estate, or marriage? In this engaging book, Richard Kurin shows that cultures are also mediated and indeed brokered by countries, organizations, communities, and individuals -- all with their own vision of the truth and varying abilities to impose it on others. Drawing on his diverse experiences in producing exhibitions and public programs, Kurin challenges culture brokers -- defined broadly to include museum professionals, film-makers, journalists, festival producers, and scholars of many disciplines -- to reveal more clearly the nature of their interpretations, to envision the ways in which their messages can "play" to different audiences, and to better understand the relationship between knowledge, art, politics, and entertainment. The book documents a variety of cases in which the Smithsonian has brokered culture for the American public: a planned exhibit on Jerusalem had to balance both Israeli and Palestinian agendas; debates over the 1996 Olympic Arts Festival presented differing visions of the American South; and the National Air and Space Museum's controversial display of the Enola Gay prompted the Smithsonian to re-examine the role of national museums. Arguing that cultural exhibits reflect a series of decisions about representing someone, someplace, and something, Reflections of a Culture Broker discusses the ethical and technical problems faced by not only those who practice in a museum setting but also anyone charged with representing culture in a public forum.

Nearby History

Nearby History
Author: David E. Kyvig
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Total Pages: 310
Release: 2000
Genre: History
ISBN: 9780742502710

In the Second Edition of Nearby History, the authors have updated all chapters, introduced information about internet sources and uses of newer technologies, as well as updated the appendices.

Coming of Age in Chicago

Coming of Age in Chicago
Author: Ira Jacknis
Publisher: U of Nebraska Press
Total Pages: 618
Release: 2016-01-01
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0803268386

"Collection of scholarly essays and primary documents exploring the significance of the 1893 World's Fair and the history of American anthropology"--

Becoming a History Teacher

Becoming a History Teacher
Author: Ruth Sandwell
Publisher: University of Toronto Press
Total Pages: 358
Release: 2014-01-01
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1442626518

Becoming a History Teacher is a collection of thoughtful essays by history teachers, historians, and teacher educators on how to prepare student teachers to think historically and to teach historical thinking.