Re-Imagining the Museum

by Andrea Witcomb

Re-Imagining the Museum presents new interpretations of museum history and contemporary museum practices. Through a range of case studies from the UK, North America and Australia, Andrea Witcomb moves away from the idea that museums are always 'conservative' to suggest they have a long history of engaging with popular culture and addressing a variety of audiences. She argues that museums are key mediators between high and popular culture and between government, media practitioners, cultural policy-makers and museums professionals. Analyzing links between museums and the media, looking at the role of museums in cities, and discussing the effects on museums of cultural policies, Re-Imagining the Museum presents a vital tool in the study of museum practice.

208 pages, Paperback

First published December 5, 2002

Reviews

[Candy Wood]

While this book retains features of the doctoral dissertation it originally was, from extensive reviews of literature to repetitive structure and obvious transitions, it’s still an interesting look at possibilities for making museums less a repository of objects and cultural heritage as seen by the dominant culture and more places of discovery and dialogue. Witcomb’s experience is mostly Australian, but she includes examples from North America, Britain, and France as well. Rather than identifying with any established side in the debate, she takes what she calls a transdisciplinary approach, recognizing that many different specialists as well as the general public have a stake in methods of museum organization and display. She also considers the function of museum websites, pointing to some successful ones such as the Peabody Museum at Harvard and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. A few photographs help to illustrate her discussions of particular spaces.