Reinventing the Museum: The Evolving Conversation on the Paradigm Shift

by Gail Anderson (Editor)

Reinventing the Museum: The Evolving Conversation on the Paradigm Shift offers 44 seminal articles representing the changing perspectives about the role of museums in contemporary times. The book includes iconic pieces from the 20th century and presents the latest thinking of the past decade. The book begins with foundational writings that provide a thorough history of museum thought and theory. With this context established, Anderson presents articles that trace the emerging ideas in 21st-century museum studies on public engagement, frameworks, and leadership. In conjunction with introductory material and recommended additional readings, these articles will help students grasp the leading ideas and the essentials of the dialogue taking place in the museum field.

Genres: Museums, Museology, Cultural, Grad School, Nonfiction, School

558 pages, Paperback

First published March 8, 2012

Reviews

[Leah Kotok · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thorough overview of how museums continue to reinvent themselves over the past century. It's not light reading - I read it for a grad class - but it definitely gave me a strong background in museum theory.

[Doria · Rating 4 out of 5]

An important and exhaustive collection of essays and talks transcribed into essay formats, all pointing to the urgency for museums to change and adapt their core missions. I like the way that the different chapters moved chronologically, beginning with some of the earliest essay by museum scholars on the importance of working towards transformative and visitor-oriented change, and moving into very recent research in the area.

I also found it instructive to read work from professionals outside of the museum field - lawyers, business folk, sociologists and bloggers all had useful contributions and perspectives to share. And I especially appreciated the way so many writers recurred to themes surrounding ethical questions relevant to museums. Particularly noteworthy is law professor Marilyn Phelan’s essay, “Legal and Ethical Considerations in Museum Acquisitions”, which tackles the ongoing problem of Holocaust-era looted art.

[Valleri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh, I could have done without reading this dinosaur.

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of academic essays considering the transforming socio-political role of museums in society, resulting in dialectic paradigm shifts and the reorganization of museological institutions, prioritizing education over collections, and adapting a business/market oriented governing model. This reorganization of museums aims to reflect contemporary life in its exhibitory practices, and to sustain dialectic accessibility that transcends the museum space.

[Jonathan Marulanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is trying to please everyone while pleasing no one. There were definitely a number of chapters that can be skipped depending on your role. My personal favorites were Chapters 1, 6, 13, 23, 25, 26, 30, 31, 33

[April Raine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall, some interesting articles, but not as provocative as the title suggests.

[Britt C · Rating 3 out of 5]

HUGE volume but organized well. Some chapters were very dry and there was a lot of repetition, but not too bad.