Interpreting Objects and Collections (Leicester Readers in Museum Studies)

by Susan M. Pearce

This volume brings together the most significant papers on the interpretation of objects and collections. Together these collected writings examine the part that objects play in our lives, how people relate to material culture and why they collect things. Interpreting Objects and Collections begins by setting out the philosophical and historical context of object interpretation. This is followed by a collection of papers discussing objects variously as historical documents, functioning material and as semiotic texts, as well as papers which examine the politics of objects and the methodology of object study. The papers in this second part look at the study of collections in their historical and conceptual context covering many topics including the use of collecting to structure individual identity, its effect on time and space and the construction of gender. There are also papers discussing collection and ideology, collection and social action and the methodology of collection study.

Genres: Nonfiction, Museology, Museums

Paperback Bunko

First published November 17, 1994

About the author

Susan M. Pearce is Professor Emeritus of Museum Studies at the University of Leicester. Her research interests have always concentrated on Material Culture, particularly human relationships with the artefact world and the nature and process of collecting. She studied history and archaeology at Oxford University and then worked on the curatorial staff at the National Museums on Merseyside and Exeter City Museum. She joined the Department in 1984 and was appointed Director in 1989, Professor of Museum Studies in 1992, Dean of the Arts Faculty in 1996 and Pro-vice chancellor in 2000. Susan M. Pearce was also President of the Museums Association 1992-1994.

Reviews

[Veronica Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The publication is composed of a number of papers by different authors drawn from different contexts and from different years - quite an interesting idea, I think. Some of the articles were highly theoretical and the use of jargon was sometimes excessive. But it is understandable given that many of them were written before the 1980s when the approach to scholarly writing was rather different than what it is today. In spite of this, most of the articles were really insightful and it was an interesting read overall. I suggest people studying heritage presentation and interpretation have at least a flip through as it helps put in focus artefacts and collections from different perspectives.

[A Mig · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting anthology on the topic of material culture and the collecting process. Although technical, the papers are short and diverse enough that the reading remains entertaining all along. One big caveat though, there is not one illustration of collections, too bad!

[Yokusun Basi]

Interpreting Objects and Collections (Leicester Readers in Museum Studies) by Susan Pearce (1994)

[João Gabriel Caia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nesta obra coletiva coordenada (e muito protagonizada em vários capítulos) por Susan M. Pearce temos um contributo fundamental para a investigação em história de coleções e biografias de objetos.
Publicado em 1994, antes de outros contributos assinaláveis surgirem (e estou a pensar em Alberti na “Isis”), o livro que aqui divulgo, também em formato digital, apresenta uma boa variedade de perspetivas de análise sobre esta área concreta da história da ciência e dos estudos museológicos, assinadas por diferentes especialistas.
O valor historiográfico das obras coletivas é, para mim, superior precisamente pelos debates que decorrem dentro dos seus limites. Sobre cultura material, valorização e interpretação de objetos em museus, história de coleções, biografias de colecionadores ou análises interdisciplinares de colecionismos, a presente obra estimula contributos científicos imprescindíveis para historiadores ou outros cientistas sociais que se dedicam à história da cultura científica em museus.

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A theoretical anthology offering methodological approaches to material culture studies, the interpretation of objects, and a final part on interpretation of collections of objects. Historical, functional, and symbolic models of interpretation are explored. Value is contrasted with interpretation, with contextualization as a useful methodological addition to historical and functional modes.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

My word, the theory...the theory