The Museum and Society

by Soren Zibrandt Von Dosenrode-Lynge, Kevin Hetherington (Editor), Susan M. Pearce (Editor)

Gathering contributions from experts with backgrounds in art history, museology, the museum profession and social science, this text explores the various roles that museums have played in the creation of cultural identities. The phrase museum and society can no longer be regarded as simply a matter of the museum and its social context. The contributors put the case that there is a museum aspect to many contemporary social issues, including national identity, disability and social exclusion. They also argue that, historically, cultural identities were partly forged at the museum. The book reflects on what is seen to be a new intimacy between museum practice and social science as museums increasingly take on a role as agents of social change, and reveals how this development is enhancing our understanding of issues such as heritage, museum marketing, social inclusion and ethnicity. It also argues that museum research is leading to new interdisciplinary perspectives on society.

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002