Civilizing the Museum : The Collected Writings of Elaine Heumann Gurian

Written over a thirty-five year career, the essays in Civilizing the Museum introduce students to the powerful, sometimes contested, and often unrealized notion that museums should welcome all because they house the collective memory of all. Drawing on her experience working in and with museums in the US and throughout the world, Author Elaine Heumann Gurian explores the possibilities for making museums more central and relevant to society. The twenty-two essays are organized around five main themes: \* museum definitions\* civic responsibility and social service\* architectural spaces\* exhibitions\* spirituality and rationality. And these themes address the elements that would make museums more inclusive such as: \* exhibition technique\* space configurations\* the personality of the director\* the role of social service\* power sharing\* types of museums\* the need for emotion humour and spirituality. Without abandoning the traditional museum processes, Gurian shows how museums can honour tradition whilst embracing the new. Enriched by her experience in groundbreaking museums, Gurian has provided a book that provokes thought, dialogue and action for students and professionals in the field to realize the inclusive potential of museums. BOOK COVER......Page 1 HALF-TITLE......Page 2 TITLE......Page 4 COPYRIGHT......Page 5 DEDICATIONS......Page 6 CONTENTS......Page 8 FOREWORD......Page 12 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......Page 16 ABBREVIATIONS......Page 20 INTRODUCTION......Page 22 PART I: THE IMPORTANCE OF “AND”......Page 30 1. THE CONCEPT OF FAIRNESS......Page 32 2. THE IMPORTANCE OF “AND”......Page 35 3. THE MOLTING OF CHILDREN’S MUSEUMS?......Page 40 4. WHAT IS THE OBJECT OF THIS EXERCISE?......Page 54 5. CHOOSING AMONG THE OPTIONS......Page 69 6. TIMELINESS......Page 78 PART II: A SAFER PLACE......Page 88 7. THE MUSEUM AS A SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INSTITUTION, 1988......Page 90 8. TURNING THE OCEAN LINER SLOWLY......Page 97 9. THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SOCIAL SERVICE, 1991......Page 103 10. A SAVINGS BANK FOR THE SOUL......Page 109 PART III: SPACE, THE FINAL FRONTIER......Page 118 11. FUNCTION FOLLOWS FORM......Page 120 12. THRESHOLD FEAR......Page 136 13. FREE AT LAST......Page 148 PART IV: NOODLING AROUND WITH EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITIES......Page 156 14. ANSWERS TO THE TEN QUESTIONS I AM MOST OFTEN ASKED......Page 158 15. NOODLING AROUND WITH EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITIES......Page 171 16. LET’S EMPOWER ALL THOSE WHO HAVE A STAKE IN EXHIBITIONS......Page 183 17. RELUCTANT RECOGNITION OF THE SUPERSTAR......Page 188 18. A BLURRING OF THE BOUNDRIES, 1994......Page 192 19. THE UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM......Page 201 PART V: SPIRITUALITY......Page 208 20. A JEW AMONG THE INDIANS......Page 210 21. REPATRIATION IN CONTEXT......Page 215 22. SINGING AND DANCING AT NIGHT......Page 221 BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 228 INDEX......Page 235 Written Over A Thirty-five Year Career, The Essays In Civilizing The Museum Introduce Students To The Powerful, Sometimes Contested, And Often Unrealized Notion That Museums Should Welcome All Because They House The Collective Memory Of All. Drawing On Her Experience Working In And With Museums In The Us And Throughout The World, Author Elaine Heumann Gurian Explores The Possibilities For Making Museums More Central And Relevant To Society.--publisher Description. Introduction : Reflections On 35 Years In The Museum Field -- 1. The Concept Of Fairness : A Debate At The American Association Of Museums, 1990 -- 2. The Importance Of And : A Comment On Excellence And Equity, 1992 -- 3. The Molting Of Children's Museums? : An Observation, 1998 -- 4. What Is The Object Of This Exercise? : A Meandering Exploration Of The Many Meanings Of Objects In Museums, 1999 -- 5. Choosing Among The Options : An Opinion About Museum Definitions, 2002 -- 6. Timeliness : A Discussion For Museums, 2003 -- 7. The Museum As A Socially Responsible Institution, 1988 -- 8. Turning The Ocean Liner Slowly : About The Process Of Change In Larger Institutions, 1990 -- 9. The Opportunity For Social Service, 1991. Elaine Heumann Gurian. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 207-213) And Index. The essays in 'Civilizing the Museum' introduce students to the powerful, sometimes contested, and often unrealised notion that museums should welcome all because they house the collective memory of all. The author uses her own experiences to explore the possibilities for making museums more central and relevant to society Features essays that introduce students to the notion that museums should welcome all because they house the collective memory of all. This book explores the possibilities for making museums more central and relevant to society, and shows how museums can honour tradition, whilst embracing the new