The separation of an object from its intended environment is not something usually considered by the typical museum-goer. However, separating religious and cult objects from their original sacred spaces takes away their intended impact on the observer. Because of this, an old religious object placed out of context in a museum with little explanation will not have the desired effect on the viewer. In her 1994 article, “Sacrality and Aura in the Museum: Mute Objects and Articulate Space,” Joan Branham asserts that by placing ritual objects on display in museums out of their original context we strip away their original sacred values, seriously altering their original meaning. She makes the distinction that old religious and cult objects are …show more content…
A modern museum displaying pieces from a variety of time periods must carefully consider where each object is placed in relation to the space it is in and the other objects around it. As Branham mentions in her article, placing two objects from different time periods with vastly different meanings near each other can cause the viewer to unconsciously relate the two in their minds. This takes away the power over the viewer that some religious and cult objects had in their original settings. One way to solve this is to give each object some context on its display plaque. However, reading a description of an objects original meaning can only go so far to a viewer. It is much more effective to create a museum environment that assists the object in accomplishing its original purpose in order to make the viewer actively feel the original meaning of an object. In the article, Branham mentions Silvia Kolbowski's 1993 satirical work, Once more, with feeling, which shows that a museum can artificially manipulate how the viewer interacts with an object. This manipulation can be used in a positive manner to recreate an old religious object’s original scared presence and reflect its true meaning to the modern …show more content…
In the text, Branham mentions that the fifth-century chancel screen with a Greek cross (fig. 1), is a decontextualized display because it is taken out of its original context and allows a viewer to “neutrally stand in its presence” and I agree (p. 35). In its modern display in the Bode Museum, Berlin the fifth-century chancel screen with a Greek cross is placed so that it can be examined by anyone from any angle giving the impression that it was intended to approached by anyone. To the average museum-goer this object’s placement takes away a significant portion of its original meaning. In its original setting this object had a significant religious purpose and was separated from the common person. To maintain an object’s full meaning, a museum must consciously place objects in an artificial setting that gives the same meaning as the original setting. This is very important because as mentioned in the article “unapproachability is a major quality of the cult image” (p. 34). Separating an object from its original surroundings creates an object that is “neutered,” and devoid of its original purpose (p. 35). To maintain an object’s full meaning it is ultimately up to the museum displaying the object to present the object in a way that represents it in its full
The plaque shown is a light umber in color, with a funeral scene etched out in black and white engravings into the smooth surface. The figures are very geometric in style and simplified. Even so, each figure seems to still have somewhat differentiating features from one another. How they are places in relation to each other creates a sense of rhythm within the piece. Helping guide the viewer, and lends itself to the illusion of the element of time.
The object I chose in the Lightner Museum is a painting with a gold frame. The medium in which it was created is oil on canvas. Featuring this piece is a man on a seat in front of a podium. He looks around the age of fifty, wearing a black cap and glasses. His clothing consists of a collared shirt, a coat, slacks, long socks to his knees, and black shoes. In one hand he holds a small book, which he appears to be reading from, and in his other hand he carries a brown stick about a foot in length. Standing in front of the man is a boy about ten years of age. He is standing with very straight posture and his hands by his sides. The boy is adorned with a blue vest, a white collared, long-sleeved shirt and brown pants. To the right of the man is another boy with his head resting in his hands. He is sitting on a bench and appears to be sobbing. There is a boy ducking behind the podium with his hand cupped beside his mouth, inferring that he is whispering something secretly to the boy being addressed by the adult figure. The rest of the children in the classroom-type setting sit behind desks in the far right corner of the painting, each sharing a collective look of mischief and laughter. There also appears to be a chalkboard on the back wall of the room, and some sort of picture hangs above the board on the same wall.
As indicated above, the exhibit is theme-based, centered around a historical period of time. Because of this, there is a large proportion of text, revealing background history, in relation to the actual artifacts. In my second, more thorough run-through, I certainly found myself reading more than looking at "things". In fact, it seems as though the exhibit only tells the true chronological history to those patient enough to read all of the text. A less thorough visit to the exhibit will undoubtedly result in a skewed view of the past. I will address this issue later in the Critical Assessment section.
Through some of these artifacts, we can see how the christian spiritual world has been shaped, leaving a great affect for the cuter generations who build off of it. and it is through Museums can future generations grow from the foot steps of the tools of our ancestors to help promote our future. Museums are also known to captivate the minds of many with the wonders of the ancient world all there to be seen and learned about. The Dunham Bible Museum accomplishes that task of offering knowledge to those who seek it through the rare and amazing pieces of history.
Baxandall, Michael. "Exhibiting intention: Some preconditions of the visual display of culturally purposeful objects." Exhibiting cultures: The poetics and politics of museum display (1991): 33-41.
Duncan’s (1991) analysis of western museums is defined through the theme of “durable objects” as a criterion to judge the heritage of American and European art as a ritual of the modern state. In this manner western art museums are built like “temples” as a symbolic and figurative representation of greatness of western culture throughout the world: “[They] are more like the traditional ceremonial monuments that museum buildings often emulate—classical temples” (Duncan 90). This interpretation of American/European museums defines a dominant source of cultural heritage that ritualizes
...an picking the artifacts. Although I did learn about William Morris and his designs in my history classes I learnt about the concept behind his design decisions and in depth analysis of Morris’s evolution as a designer only when I started working on this exhibit. It is imperative that you do research before arriving on any decision in regard to putting up any exhibit. Furthermore after analyzing the different options, it is imperative that you have facts to back up your decisions of the artifacts chosen. Every artifact that you pick for your case should have direct relation to your concept and it should be consistent among all artifacts. Overall a lot of thought should be put into the exhibit and the concept must reflect the ideas distinctly.
Aside from the controversy surrounding the statues, the collection itself represents the ideas of conflict and ...
In Stephen Weil’s essay, he argues “the museum’s role has transformed from one of mastery to one of service” (Weil, 196). According to him, museums have changed their mission from one that cultures the public to one that serves
Imagine that one piece of history that is taken from a town. This piece of history tells l people how this town was built and all the important people that were apart of the community. “Returning Antiquities to Their Countries of Origin” by Joyce Mortimer can many people about how objects are getting taken from Museums. They should be returned immediately. There are so many artifacts out there that could be so important to people, and if someone can just imagine what it would feel to have one of the most important object taken from a museum and to be never returned again. Many people enjoy seeing these objects so why are they being taken?
...troversy as all countries have lost, to a great or lesser extent, treasures of national renown and significance over time. Wars, theft, treasure seeking, changing boundaries and migration have all in some way contributed to this diaspora of art. There is clear evidence that the historic placing of objects in locations remote from their origin has on occasion afforded protection and preservation, The Elgin Marbles in The British Museum being a case in point. However, given the overarching principle of self determination it is difficult to argue that serendipitous historic placement is sufficient reason for items of true national heritage to be kept indefinitely. A world-wide system of touring exhibitions and cultural exchange, with context being provided by the originating society may provide the natural progression to the accessible widening of people’s experiences.
Professor LaFleur in lecture on November 11 mentioned, “Museums were extremely powerful in shaping the way people saw the world” (Lecture 007). This same reasoning is why Fusco and Pena embark on this ethnographic journey. By displaying “A Savage Performance”, we see that they are subverting the past notions of ethnography. Ethnographic museums as the ones Sara Baartman was displayed in served a purpose and created a certain kind of discourse. “Discourse do not simply reflect reality, or innocently designate objects; rather they constitute them in specific contexts according to particular relations of power” (Lidchi, p. 185). Lidchi goes on to say that ethnography was created by the dominant culture in the imperial c...
A museum gives us insight on the culture from an out standing point of view, and the things we are shown are supposed to be looked at from the outside. The people who decided what things to exhibit did not belong to that community saw it, and decided what they considered is different to what we are used to, and what we would be interested in learning from that. The display of things in a Museum are things that we look at as something that is outside from normal. In contrast to the movie or movies, where scenes substantially show how the person felt and dealt with situations and tools from their own perspective, with their own knowledge and experience and through different means such as real images, sounds, language and others produces a different knowledge on the racial discourse. When looking at exhibitions in museums the other culture is unknown, and almost uncomfortable to us, but in movies we can be standing in their
Art through the ages has been a powerful voice for both secular and religious ideas, and the treasury of Christian art should not be relegated to museum viewing. The art should be displayed in the church were it is meant to be. Its richness can be brought to people in schools and adult study groups. This, in turn, can help to bring art up to the level, that the faith deserves. Churches should fill the walls with art to show what happened throughout the bible. Art creates connections and associations between what we see and what we sense happened. Both ritual and art challenge us to take us beyond the immediate, if they are to bring about true insight and transformation in our lives.
A museum is “a building in which objects of historical, scientific, artistic, or cultural interest are stored and exhibited.” (dictionary.com). This is the literal definition of a museum as well as my view of them coming into my first semester of college. I believed they were boring, outdated places where historical items were displayed. As I moved through the semester, my professor helped me gain a new perspective of these remarkable museums; one of respect and astonishment. Museums are meant to aid in learning and safeguarding of things that should never be forgotten. Of the many great places I visited this semester that adjusted my feelings towards museums, the ones that had the greatest impact were The National Museum of Natural History, The Newseum, The National Gallery of Art, and The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. These places are there to remind the general public about things that should never be forgotten; they preserve the history and beauty of the world.