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Steven WilcoxAnth 377

Ball State University04-12-10

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Making Museums Matter

Stephen E. WeilSmithsonian Inst Pr.,

2002273 pages

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Measuring worthPurposive – A clear sense of what purposes

external to themselves they are seeking to accomplish

Capable – Command the means requires to accomplish those purposes

Effective – Demonstrate the ability to accomplish the purposes

Efficient – Are able to do so in a maximally economic manner

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Not all measurements are equalPurposiveness and capability are the building

block of a museum, ambiguity is the downfallEfficiency must be balancedEffectiveness is all the really matters

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Romance vs RealismRomantic view Realist viewA museum is an

institution of universal and positive value

Museums are “inherently good” in this paradigm

Efficiency centeredProblems:

It can’t be bad It could deliberately

foster misunderstandings

A museum is a value-neutral organizational instrument with the capability to be used for a many purposes

Intention vs. Outcome centered

Problems: Isn’t sure how to

measure impact

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Measuring impact

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So why do museums matter?They are institutions for the community,

meant to enrich their patrons well being and knowledge

Museums are home to objects with powerful histories that help people better understand the past

Every museum can have a different purpose, so their potential is unlimited

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Contextual and Aesthetic value The first Amendment:

Free speech is free, as long as it isn’t vulgarAesthetic durability!

Can it withstand the test of time?

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Good vs. Bad MuseumsGood BadPurpose drivenMake a positive

difference in the quality of peoples lives

Do they even exist?

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What to do with bad museumsIn a sense they should be of greater concern

than a good museumThey tie up resources and diminish museums

reputationsSo what should be done to bad museums?If a museum is bad it should be fixed

immediately, or closed

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CollectingPrivate collecting today is the same, but

institutional collecting has changed greatlyThree primary reasons for change

1. Exponential growth rate2. Legal rules proliferated enormously3. Most importantly, the nature of museums

themselves underwent a complete transformation. Inward concentration to outward concentration

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How technology affects museumsWith the rise of nanotechnology, could we

have exact clones of original pieces of art?Would they be under the same protection as

the original piece, including copyright laws?With the ability to encrypt data copyright

laws have found a loop to be more or less protected infinitely

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Beyond the doorsMuseums can be a compelling agent of

fundamental social changeThrough enrichment of visitors museums

help form an educated, informed, sensitive, and aware citizenry

Help build a just, stable, abundant, harmonious, and humane society

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Carrying ideas outContains great rubrics to rate the success

and value of museumsCould help refocus a museum staffGreat tool to inform students