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The Museum is not transparent: Engaging the museum in examination of its own role in the production of history

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Authors
Harris, Jennifer
Date
2006
Type
Conference Paper

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Citation
Harris, Jennifer. 2006. The Museum is not transparent: Engaging the museum in examination of its own role in the production of history, in Vieregg, H.K. and Risnicoff de Gorgas, M. and Schiller, R. and Troncoso, M. (ed), ICOFOM Annual Meeting 2006, Museology: a Field of Knowledge (II): Museology and History, 5 Oct 2006, pp. 289-296. University of Cordoba, Argentina: Museo Nacional Estancia Jesuitica de Alta Gracia y Casa del Virrey Liniers on behalf of ICOFOM.
Source Title
Museology and History - a field of knowledge
Source Conference
ICOFOM Annual Meeting 2006, Museology a Field of Knowledge (II): Museology and History
Faculty
Division of Humanities
Faculty of Built Environment, Art and Design
Faculty of Built Environment, Art and Design (BEAD)
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Abstract

Contemporary museology is attempting to wrest the museum from its role of transparent presenter of history. In this role the museum has assumed itself to have an apolitical position as it has displayed, exhibited and explained objects from the past without taking into account its own complicity in history. The acts of collecting, choosing and displaying artefacts have not been regarded as historic, moral and political. The institution of the museum has regarded itself as transparent, simply a window onto history.