What do you think of when I say Museum? Is it cases of old things in big glass cases with labels? Elderly volunteers telling that you can't touch anything? Museums like every other sector have been touched by the effects of our technological revolution. People are no longer content to just wander, look and contemplate. The public wishes to be amused while we have the audacity to educated them. So like the mom who hides the vegetables under something more tantalizing, museums are working to produce fun and exciting exhibits that still tackle tough subjects. This phenomenon is called edutainment.
When I went to the British Museum, there were several artefacts that could be touched. I touched a piece of the Sphinx's beard and a gigantic stone sarcophagus.
ReplyDeleteWhen I go to a museum, I want to be amazed and wowed by something out of the ordinary. I want to feel connected to whatever it is I'm learning about, whether that's something very beautiful, or very old.
I've seen the actual Rosetta Stone, and when I think about that, it fucking blows my mind!
Artefacts like stone work and masonry are more likely to be on the "you can touch it" list than, say a piece of fabric from the 18th century. It really depends on the composition of the artefact. There are some pieces that are in museum collections that will never see the light of day again. Those objects usually have either a fake one made for display purposes or if other examples exist then they become part of an education collection.Ed collections are all hands on and used, as you might guess, for teaching tools when the real McCoy is not attainable or accessible.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with the differences in touching vs. hands off. I kinda wanted to touch the mummies, but they were behind glass, and that probably wouldn't have been good for them. But there was just a pile of hair there. Mummified hair? It was weird. My favourite was the Queen of the Night (http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/me/t/queen_of_the_night_relief.aspx). It's gorgeous up close.
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