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Mary Jane Berman 2003 Workshop on Improving Student Writing
ASSIGNMENT # 3 Museum Anthropology Objective:To explore, critique, and analyze three different museum exhibition philosophiesOutcome:An informed, textured understanding of varying museum exhibition strategies and the underlying messages they convey about the subject matter, the exhibition team (curator, educator, designer), the collection, and the sponsoring institution Option #1Compare/Contrast the exhibit philosophies of the SCIWORKS, Museum of Anthropology, Reynolda House Museum of American Art. (Substitute Miami University Art Museum, McGuffey Museum, and other museum TBA). Please discuss the following issues in your paper. However, you do not have to write about them in the order I present here. Remember to use American Anthropologist format when citing articles or books. 1. Describe the exhibit philosophies you observed at the Museum of Anthropology, SCIWORKS, Reynolda House Museum of American Art, and MESDA (general statement with discussion). 2. What exhibit strategies does each of the museums employ? (Typically, they use combinations- so you can list and discuss, compare, and contrast them). 3. How well does each museum fulfill its mission statement through its exhibits? (Suggestion: get a copy of the Museum's mission statement). 4. What does the language of the label text or the docent, tour guide, video, self-guided tour etc. convey? Compare/contrast (i.e., Authoritative, inclusive). 5. What does the content of the exhibits convey? 6. What do you think are the obvious messages; what are the metanarratives? Who is included? Who is excluded? 7. In an article we read and discussed, "Mining the Museum" (1994:1), Lisa G. Corrin writes,
In what ways do the museum exhibits you visited support these ideas? In what ways are these museums trying to respond to the kinds of criticisms presented in this quote (and in other articles we read this semester and you read for paper #2)? Also, Susan Vogel stated that all museums are political in nature. Think about this, too, when writing this section. 8. What conservation measures can be observed in the exhibits and the museums? 9. How would you improve the learning environment in each of these museums? 10. Did you see that special care had been taken to accommodate handicapped visitors? If so, what are these features? 11. Describe the behavior of at least one visitor (or groups of visitors) at *each* of the museums. Do they seem engaged? How long do they appear to stay at each exhibit or case? 12. Other observations. Be creative. Integrate ideas from class readings, readings from your papers, class discussions etc. INTEGRATE AND CITE at least *FIVE* readings from the syllabus (with proper citation and references cited section) into the paper. 13. Points for proper citation style. 14. Points for proper "References Cited" section. 15. Points for grammar, clarity of writing. Option #2(Your Museum), A Brief History Here are some details to be researched and included in your paper: 1). Official name of the Museum 2). Where located (visit the website -- you can get all kinds of interesting information) 3). What is the museum's mission? 4). What year established? 5). Organization and staffing -- what departments, divisions, curators? 6). Provide organizational chart 7). Who founded? What circumstances? 8). What are the important collections? 9). What are the important anthropology collections? 10). Who collected? 11). Discuss, briefly, one important collection. 12). What controversies has your museum been involved in? 13). Name at least two “famous” anthropologists who is/was a staff member of your museum and indicate why this individual is important and made or is making a significant contribution to anthropology. Criteria:
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