Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
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Within the field of critical museology, western museums are considered to be the social institutions which demonstrate the politics of domination, especially through presenting non-western cultures...Show moreWithin the field of critical museology, western museums are considered to be the social institutions which demonstrate the politics of domination, especially through presenting non-western cultures, and they also generate social inclusion, exclusion and different identifications based on the concept of race or class (Bulter 2000, Fujitani 1997, Sachedina 2011 and Strong 1997). This research on the special exhibition: Longing for Mecca: The pilgrim’s journey will focus on how social inclusion of Islamic communities in Dutch society is made by the exhibition in Rijksmuseum Volkenkunde. The concept of social inclusion implies at least three things in the case: displaying the underrepresented (Dutch Muslim communities) in the national system of representation (Rijksmuseum Volkenkunde), collaborating with local communities, and being more accessible for those communities. This research is based on the three implications of social inclusion of Longing for Mecca exhibition to demonstrate how social inclusion has been imagined and generated by museum staff, and to point out advantages and conflicts that the implications contain. Furthermore, I will also explain how these implications intertwine with visitor experiences that broaden the meaning of visiting Rijksmuseum Volkenkunde.Show less
