This paper discusses two evaluations conducted by the National Museum of American History for two prototype exhibits: "Commerce and Conflict: The English in Virginia, 1625" and "Kiva, Cross, and Crown at Pecos Pueblo." Each exhibit was an experimental archaeological exhibit and was a prototype for a larger exhibit, "American Encounters 1492-1992." In particular, this paper focuses on data that implies objects have power, and that the power of the objects is created by those who look at them. The author discusses the the power of the objects from a male and female perspective.
This paper describes a front-end evaluation carried out as part of the planning for the "Early China" galleries at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) in Toronto, Ontario. The evaluation examined visitors' "reading" of - the interpretations drawn from personal knowledge and a lifetime's experience. Insight into the way visitors interpreted typical artifacts for themselves gave guidance in determining the extent and kind of interpretation we should provide in the gallery. Furthermore, information about the extent to which visitors can already link artifacts to categories and concepts provides a
This paper discusses how numerous methods and theories from sociological and anthropological research are applicable and useful in museum settings. These concepts can provide clues to new approaches to audience development and exhibit design. This paper relates to papers written by Dr. Adrian Aveni and Dr. Jeffrey Bonner featured earlier in this issue of "Visitor Studies."
This paper begins with a discussion of what is meant by the "anthropological perspective" and then demonstrates how the unique viewpoint of anthropology can cause evaluators to rethink what is interpreted in the museum context and on how it is interpreted. Secondly, this paper presents an example of how the subject matter of anthropology can inform museology. Finally, this paper briefly examines how anthropological research methods can expand the repertoire of msuuem researchers.
This paper focuses on the group context of visitor behavior. It includes an introduction of a simple model of behavior that describes how human behavior is influenced by group memberships, which is central to thinking in sociology and compatible to thinking in psychology and anthropology. Suggestions on how this model can be applied to visitor studies are also described.
The Exploratorium proposes to create a multidimensional exhibition on the theme of navigation. The exhibition proper will contain approximately 20 new interactive exhibits dealing with topics of human orientation, wayfinding/exploration, the importance of time in navigation, maps and navigation traditions. Alongside the exhibits we will display real navigational artifacts borrowed from other museums. We have identified approximately 40 existing exhibits which, while not in the main show, will receive textual modification to show their relation to navigational topics. In addition to the exhibition of artifacts and interactive exhibits, we will present a series of lectures, theme weekends, and demonstrations of navigational techniques. During the run of the show we will host a Symposium On The American Encounter wherein we will hold an open forum of lectures and discussion of historical, anthropological and social consequences of cultural encounter on the North American Continent. We will produce both a brochure and a high quality catalog for this show. In addition we will create written "pathways" of organization of this museum-wide show to bring to focus different features and approaches to navigation. Our education departments will play a leading role in creating more formal programs for our visitors. The physical show will be reproduced in a travelling version to tour nine venues in the three years following its opening at the Exploratorium. We will collect the results of our researchers in a dissemination package to be made available to others in the field.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Thomas HumphreyPeter RichardsMichael Pearce