Leiden University Student Repository

Plate, Annika (2024)

Shifting spiritual aura in shamanistic objects: Transformations of Korean shamanistic objects in museum exhibitions

Bachelor thesis | Koreastudies (BA)

This study investigates the shifts in spiritual aura shamanistic objects experience when they transfer to a museum. Combining literature research and analysis of shaman paintings across three museums, this research explores how the display, objects, and other contributing factors create the shifts in spiritual aura. The literature research finds that shamanism has a deep spiritual connection with the objects used. When these objects are displayed in museums several factors may change this aura. The findings of the research, consisting of three museums in the Netherlands and South Korea, demonstrate that the shifting aura depends heavily on the museum’s purpose and how the exhibition is curated. Depending on how space, time, purpose, and context of the objects are dealt with spiritual aura alternates. By highlighting these factors, museums can better convey and honor culturally sensitive objects that hold deep spiritual meaning.

shifting aura

spiritual aura

shamanism

South Korean museums

display in museums

Author

Plate, Annika

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Supervisors

Breuker, R.E.
Veldkamp, E.

ECTS Credits

10

Language

en