The Social Impact of Ethnological Museums in a Multicultural Society: How Exhibitions Can Act as Agents of Mutual Understanding Between Visitors of Different Cultural and Ethnic Backgrounds.

Abstract In this thesis an analysis of the social impact of ethnological museums in a multicultural society is presented. It discusses how exhibitions can act as agents of mutual understanding between adult visitors of various cultural and ethnic backgrounds. It specifically analyzes different methods of display and incorporated learning strategies used in temporary exhibitions in the two major ethnological museums, Longing for Mecca in Museum Volkenkunde in Leiden and Black&White in the Tropenmuseum in Amsterdam. These exhibitions engage past and current issues concerning Muslim and black citizens respectively - ethnic groups that are largely represented in Dutch society. The first chapter argues that current debates about integration and racial discrimination in the Netherlands often lack a reasonable and respectful approach that is based on mutual understanding and could be fostered by museums. It furthermore illustrates the difficult legacy of ethnological museums as creators of...Show moreAbstract In this thesis an analysis of the social impact of ethnological museums in a multicultural society is presented. It discusses how exhibitions can act as agents of mutual understanding between adult visitors of various cultural and ethnic backgrounds. It specifically analyzes different methods of display and incorporated learning strategies used in temporary exhibitions in the two major ethnological museums, Longing for Mecca in Museum Volkenkunde in Leiden and Black&White in the Tropenmuseum in Amsterdam. These exhibitions engage past and current issues concerning Muslim and black citizens respectively - ethnic groups that are largely represented in Dutch society. The first chapter argues that current debates about integration and racial discrimination in the Netherlands often lack a reasonable and respectful approach that is based on mutual understanding and could be fostered by museums. It furthermore illustrates the difficult legacy of ethnological museums as creators of master-narratives that promoted colonial policy and racial stereotypes. Museums are shown to have advanced from oppressive and elitist structures of the past and developing towards more democratic institutions that recognize not only visitors of various backgrounds but also increasingly search for cooperation with cultures whose heritage they exhibit. It will be illustrated that currently, temporary exhibitions appear to bear greater potential to involve and cater to diverse audiences and offer room for individual interpretations than permanent displays that often still bare traces of colonial thinking. The following chapter will argue that contemporary museums, that attempt to facilitate inclusion and mutual understanding, first of all have to enable practical accessibility and present themselves as worthwhile and inviting institutions. Next, barriers that might prevent intellectual or cultural access to museums are revealed and museums are shown to be aware of and responsive to the big impact that cultural frameworks have on interpretation processes. The chapter makes an argument for the use of multi-sensory and interactive displays that cater to different learning types. The final theoretical section of this thesis elaborates on the notion that museums are understood as institutions that can increase the visitor’s knowledge and affect his values, attitudes and worldview. A large-scale visitor study, combining quantitative and qualitative data, carried out by the Research Center for Museums and Galleries (RCMG) at the University of Leicester is presented as a beneficial approach for detecting potential learning outcomes. The five categories of interconnected Generic Learning Outcomes (GLOs), emerging from this study serve as a framework for the analysis of possible visitor experiences in the case studies. It is stated that museums need to undertake more large-scale visitor research that also considers individual experiences, in order to learn which exhibition strategies result in the most desirable learning outcomes. Both analyses of the case studies illustrate that the museums cooperate with the communities they cater to and present their exhibitions in a way that connects to the experiences of the people whose cultural heritage or present-day situations are represented while enabling all visitors to draw connections to their own realm of experience. The outline of the exhibitions, the practical, cultural and intellectual accessibility, the use of objects, the impact of narratives and personal stories, possibilities for physical engagement and the potential learning outcomes are thoroughly analyzed. It will be argued that by showing many personal stories and displaying various perspectives alongside each other, the museums dedicate themselves to a democratic manner of exhibition making and enable the visitors to get into indirect or direct contact with people and viewpoints they might not encounter in their daily lives. The museums themselves provide information, establish contact between these parties and open up a forum for exchange in which mutual understanding can begin. Black&White will be presented as an outstanding example for an exhibition that facilitates mutual understanding by preventing misunderstanding and acts as the moderator of a reasonable discussion. It will be concluded that while it appears that museums can direct their exhibitions to such broad outcomes as ‘understanding’, they do not have the potential to predict specific long-term results for all visitors since they bring various learning styles, motivations and interpretive frameworks to the museum. Some shortcomings are found in the educational units of Longing for Mecca that appear to not take full advantage of their educational potential. The thesis closes with a call for a thorough modernization of all exhibitions in the museums in order to create fully inviting environments for the diverse audiences of the 21st century.Show less

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The Social Impact of Ethnological Museums in a Multicultural Society: How Exhibitions Can Act as Agents of Mutual Understanding Between Visitors of Different Cultural and Ethnic Backgrounds.