Het historia, svala museer

Abstract

There is an ongoing tension between the modern museum concept, rooted in deep traditions within modernity, and the developments within the humanities over the last 30 years. The later movement, and not the least within museology, normally strives towards a more socially engaging museum, working with contemporary social and cultural issues. The article describes and discusses a number of research and development projects dealing with involvement, public archaeology, gender, diversity and the uses of history that have been undertaken by the authors at the Swedish History Museum in Stockholm during the last six years. Some points covered in the article are that dividing lines, or opposing positions, are often not between institutions but between different kinds of activities within institutions, and that institutions eager to work with a broader scope and to engage socially will also have to deal with more debates and criticism as well as the potential for threats against staff. Museums have the power to re-imagine and to have an effect on public culture, but that is a process not without complexity.

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