Some Thoughts

Article #31 - Some Thoughts about National Museums at the End of the Century by Roger G. Kennedy

This dude's writing style was much clearer than yesterday's :)

He speaks to the issues of nationalism and the role of the museum in representing diversity. A few favorite or insightful lines:

"We strove to convert a storage facility with visitorship into a place where significant stories are told by the arrangement of objects."

"My own response has been a refutation of the notion expressed by some senators that the objects in history museums -- perhaps in all museums -- 'speak for themselves.'"

"Objects stand mute, except that their message may be imparted to people who live with them all the time and have learned their silent language. It may be wonderful to feel such a connoisseur, but no national museum would last long is it relied only on this group. [...] Objects speak most powerfully in intentional juxtaposition."

"Museums are still places in which people think."

He then goes on to talk about different museum prototypes in order to understand their strengths.

He also talks about acknowledging the diversity here in America.. not assuming that "national" means a conglomeration of different cultures into one, but a representaion of each. He frames resisting homogenization in a positive light, which I think is wise, although we should never cease to listen to one another's viewpoints and take all things into consideration.

Overall good article. Done with yet another week of talking about museum politics and relationships. These articles have been intellectually stimulating and interesting. I'm makin my way through! Have a good weekend!