Museums And The Ancient Middle East: Curatorial Practice And Audiences (routledge Research In Museum Studies)

Museums and the Ancient Middle East is the first book to focus on contemporary exhibit practice in museums that present the ancient Middle East. Bringing together the latest thinking from a diverse and international group of leading curators, the book presents the views of those working in one particular community of practice: the art, archaeology, and history of the ancient Middle East. Drawing upon a remarkable group of case studies from many of the world's leading museums, including the British Museum, the Louvre, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Ashmolean Museum, and the Vorderasiatisches Museum in Berlin, this volume describes the tangible actions curators have taken to present a previously unseen side of the Middle East region and its history. Highlighting overlaps and distinctions between the practices of national, art, and university museums around the globe, the contributors to the volume are also able to offer a unique insight into the types of challenges and opportunities facing the twenty-first century curator. Museums and the Ancient Middle East should be of interest to academics and students engaged in the study of museums and heritage, archaeology, the ancient Near East, Middle Eastern studies, and ancient history. The unique insights provided by curators active in the field ensure that the book should also be of great interest to museum practitioners around the globe. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Series Page 5 Title Page 6 Copyright Page 7 Table of Contents 8 List of Figures 11 List of Tables 16 Contributors 17 Preface 22 Part I: Introductory 24 Chapter 1: Curating the ancient Middle East 26 The ancient Middle East and museums 26 A community of curators and colleagues3 28 Museums of the ancient Middle East 30 Curatorial tensions 31 The future of curatorial practice 32 Editorial notes 34 Notes 34 References 35 Chapter 2: Museum displays and the creation of the ancient Middle East: A view from the Ashmolean and the British Museum 38 Introduction 38 Establishing an ancient Middle East (1840–1940) 38 An ancient Middle East of “peoples” and connections (1945–85) 41 Dismantling the borders of the ancient Middle East (1985–2015) 42 Looking to the future 44 References 48 Chapter 3: Ancient “art” in the white cube? Or how contemporary art creates ancient “art” 50 Introduction: A vision of ancient art 50 Ancient items or ancient works of art? 51 Modern notion of art 53 Mesopotamian “art” and “aesthetics” 55 Mesopotamian “art” exhibitions 56 Temporary and permanent exhibitions 58 References 59 Part II: Perspectives from national museums 62 Chapter 4: 170 years of curatorial practices and audiences at the Louvre: Exhibiting ancient Middle Eastern antiquities from 1847 to 2017 64 Introduction 64 What should be placed on display? 64 How and where should the collection be exhibited? A history of displaying the collection 68 For whom? 77 Conclusion 80 Annual number of visitors 81 Notes 81 References 83 Chapter 5: Gallery 55 at the British Museum: Mesopotamia 1500–539 bc 85 Introduction 85 Gallery 55 86 Department of the Middle East: Temporary and traveling exhibitions 94 Notes 94 References 95 Chapter 6: Unlocking architectures—communicating cultures: Ancient Middle Eastern worlds in the Vorderasiatisches Museum 96 Introduction 96 The new exhibition concept 101 Summary 107 Notes 107 References 109 Chapter 7: And now for something completely different: The renewal of the ancient Middle Eastern gallery in the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities 110 Introduction 110 The “cradle of civilization” virus 110 A common ancient Middle Eastern concept 111 The ancient Middle East at the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities 112 The renewal of the ancient Middle Eastern gallery 115 The Dutch and the ancient Middle East 116 Reception from visitors and the media 118 Conclusions 119 Note 121 References 121 Chapter 8: The Jordan Museum: Storyteller of land and people 123 Museum history 123 Museum’s aims, amenities and visitors 123 Concept of the permanent galleries 125 Organization of the permanent galleries 126 The museum collection 129 The documentation system 130 Temporary exhibitions 130 Conclusion 131 Part III: Perspectives from art museums 134 Chapter 9: Exhibiting interaction: Displaying the arts of the ancient Middle East in their broader context 136 Introduction 136 Notes 144 References 144 Chapter 10: Negotiations in museum practice: A reinstalled gallery of ancient Middle Eastern art at the Detroit Institute of Arts 146 Background: Museum and collections 146 Background: Reinstallation project 149 Developing the ancient Middle East gallery 150 Disruptive and innovative presentation 153 Evaluation 156 Summary 157 Notes 159 References 159 Chapter 11: An archaeological exhibition without archaeology? Joan Miró looks at Mesopotamian masterpieces 161 Introduction 161 Discovery 162 “Accommodating the space” 163 Origin of the photographs 166 Formal interpretation 167 More on Mesopotamia 168 Ballet 169 Anonymous, timeless art 170 Conclusion 171 Acknowledgments 172 References 173 Part IV: Perspectives from university museums 174 Chapter 12: Between visuality and context: Presenting archaeological narratives at the Oriental Institute 176 Introduction 176 History of the museum 178 The Oriental Institute today: Towards an archaeological narrative 184 Visuality and context 191 Concluding thoughts 193 Note 195 References 195 Chapter 13: The Middle East Gallery at the Penn Museum: A curator’s reflections on challenges and opportunities 198 Institutional background: Nippur Foundations 198 Institutional background: Nippur Foundations 198 Building the museum 200 80 years of exploration in the Middle East 202 Brief exhibition history 206 The new Middle East Gallery 211 First steps to the new gallery 212 “Journey to the City” 214 Notes 217 References 218 Chapter 14: The Archaeological Museum of the American University of Beirut and its educational role: A case study 219 Introduction 219 Chronology and the role of display 222 The Phoenician civilization 226 The Museum’s educational activities 229 References 232 Chapter 15: Beyond display: Curriculum and community engagement with ancient Middle Eastern collections in a university museum 233 Introduction 233 The Classics and Archaeology Collection 233 Case study 1: Jericho to Jerusalem 235 Case study 2: Mummymania 238 Case study 3: The Dead Don’t Bury Themselves 241 Conclusion 243 Acknowledgment 244 Notes 245 References 245 Part V: Commentary 248 Chapter 16: Exhibiting ancient Middle Eastern art in America 250 Introduction 250 The ancient Middle East comes to America 250 Reinstallation and reassessment 256 Notes 264 References 265 Index 268 Introductory -- Curating the ancient Middle East / Geoff Emberling and Lucas Petit -- Museum displays and the creation of the ancient Middle East : a view from the Ashmolean and the British museum / Paul Collins -- Ancient "art" in the white cube? or how contemporary art creates ancient "art"? / Pedro Azara and Marc Marín -- Perspectives from national museums -- 170 years of curatorial practices and audiences at the Louvre : exhibiting ancient Middle Eastern antiquities from 1847 to 2017 / Ariane Thomas -- Gallery 55 at the British Museum : Mesopotamia 1500-539 BC / Irving Finkel and Alexandra Fletcher -- Unlocking architectures? communicating cultures : ancient Middle Eastern worlds in the Vorderasiatisches Museum / Lutz Martin -- And now for something completely different? Tthe renewal of the ancient Middle Eastern Gallery in the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities / Lucas P. Petit -- The Jordan Museum : storyteller of land and people / Yosha Alamri and Jihad Kafafi -- Perspectives from art museums -- Exhibiting interaction : displaying the arts of the ancient Middle East in their broader context / Joan Aruz and Yelena Rakic -- Negotiations in museum practice : a reinstalled gallery of ancient Middle Eastern art at the Detroit Institute of Arts / Swarupa Anila and Geoff Emberling -- An archaeological exhibition without archaeology? Joan Miró looks at Mesopotamian masterpieces / Pedro Azara and Marc Marín -- Perspectives from university museums -- "We are not an art museum" : presenting archaeological narratives at the Oriental Institute / John D.M. Green -- The Middle East Gallery at the Penn Museum : a curator's reflections on challenges and opportunities / Holly Pittman -- The archaeological museum of the American University of Beirut and its educational role : a case study / Leila Badre -- Beyond display : curriculum and community engagement with ancient Middle Eastern collections in a university museum / Andrew Jamieson and Annelies van de Ven -- Commentary -- Exhibiting ancient Middle Eastern art in America / Peter Lacovara Museums and the Ancient Middle East' is the first book to focus on contemporary exhibit practice in museums that present the ancient Middle East. Bringing together the latest thinking from a diverse and international group of leading curators, the book presents the views of those working in one particular community of practice: the art, archaeology, and history of the ancient Middle East.0Drawing upon a remarkable group of case studies from many of the world's leading museums, including the British Museum, the Louvre, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Ashmolean Museum, and the Vorderasiatisches Museum in Berlin, this volume describes the tangible actions curators have taken to present a previously unseen side of the Middle East region and its history. Highlighting overlaps and distinctions between the practices of national, art, and university museums around the globe, the contributors to the volume are also able to offer a unique insight into the types of challenges and opportunities facing the twenty-first century curator.0Museums and the Ancient Middle East should be of interest to academics and students engaged in the study of museums and heritage, archaeology, the ancient Near East, Middle Eastern studies, and ancient history. The unique insights provided by curators active in the field ensure that the book should also be of great interest to museum practitioners around the globe Museums And The Ancient Middle East Is The First Book To Focus On Contemporary Exhibit Practice In Museums That Present The Ancient Middle East. Bringing Together The Latest Thinking From A Diverse And International Group Of Leading Curators, The Book Presents The Views Of Those Working In One Particular Community Of Practice: The Art, Archaeology, And History Of The Ancient Middle East. Drawing Upon A Remarkable Group Of Case Studies From Many Of The World's Leading Museums, Including The British Museum, The Louvre, The Metropolitan Museum Of Art, The Ashmolean Museum, And The Vorderasiatisches Museum In Berlin, This Volume Describes What Curators Have Done In Order To Present A Previously Unseen Side Of The Middle East Region And Its History. Highlighting Overlaps And Distinctions Between The Practices Of National, Art And University Museums Around The Globe, The Contributors To The Volume Are Also Able To Offer A Unique Insight Into The Types Of Challenges And Opportunities Facing The 21st-century Curator. Museums And The Ancient Middle East Should Be Of Interest To Academics And Students Engaged In The Study Of Museums And Heritage, Archaeology, The Ancient Near East, Middle Eastern Studies And Ancient History. The Unique Insights Provided By Curators Active In The Field Ensure That The Book Should Also Be Essential Reading For Museum Practitioners Around The Globe. __Museums and the Ancient Middle East__Drawing upon a remarkable group of case studies from many of the world's leading museums, including the British Museum, the Louvre, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Ashmolean Museum, and the Vorderasiatisches Museum in Berlin, this volume describes the tangible actions curators have taken to present a previously unseen side of the Middle East region and its history. Highlighting overlaps and distinctions between the practices of national, art, and university museums around the globe, the contributors to the volume are also able to offer a unique insight into the types of challenges and opportunities facing the twenty-first century curator.Museums and the Ancient Middle East should be of interest to academics and students engaged in the study of museums and heritage, archaeology, the ancient Near East, Middle Eastern studies, and ancient history. The unique insights provided by curators active in the field ensure that the book should also be of great interest to museum practitioners around the globe.