From Knowledge to Narrative Educators and the Changing Museum

by ROBERTS, LISA C.

• ISBN13: 9781560987062
• ISBN10: 1560987065
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1997-06-17
• Publisher: Smithsonian Books

Summary

From Knowledge to Narrativeshows that museum educators-professionals responsible for making collections intelligble to viewers-have become central figures in shaping exhibits. Challenging the traditional, scholarly presentation of objects, educators argue that, rather than transmitting knowledge, museums' displays should construct narratives that are determined as much by what is meaningful to visitors as by what curators intend. Lisa C. Roberts discusses museum education in relation to entertainment, as a tool of empowerment, as a shaper of experience, and as an ethical responsibility. The book argues for an expanded role for museum education based less on explaining objects than on interpreting narratives.

Author Biography

Lisa C. Roberts is the director of conservatories for the Chicago Park District and is the former manager of public programming at the Chicago Botanic Garden. She has contributed to numerous publications on museum education, interpretation, and visitor studies.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	ix
Introduction	1	(14)
1 Education as Entertainment	15	(32)
Popularization versus Scholarship	21	(12)
Education versus Entertainment	33	(14)
2 Education as Empowerment	47	(34)
Changing Definitions of Knowledge	56	(4)
Changing Practices of Interpretation	60	(12)
Implications for Museums' Interpretive Role	72	(9)
3 Education as Experience	81	(24)
The Culture of Imitation	90	(4)
The Culture of Authenticity	94	(2)
The Culture of Simulation	96	(9)
4 Education as Ethics	105	(26)
The Ethics of Interpretation: A Modern Dilemma	114	(5)
The Ethics of Interpretation: An Eternal Issue	119	(12)
5. Conclusion: Education as a Narrative Endeavor	131	(22)
Visitor Narratives: Rethinking "Learning" in Museums	137	(5)
Museum Narratives: Rethinking the "Teaching" Function	142	(8)
Summary	150	(3)
Epilogue	153	(2)
Notes	155	(30)
Bibliography	185	(14)
Index	199