Myth of neutrality and non-performativity of antiracism

Abstract

While museums are absorbing the language of social justice by hosting exhibitions on themes like feminism, blackness, accessibility, etc. the same museums are battling with systemic injustice within their own walls. This article discusses how museums are failing to uphold social change in their institutions by drawing attention to two recent cases: the hiring of Kristen Windmuller-Luna as curator for African Arts at Brooklyn Museum and the protests against weapons manufacturer Warren Kanders during the Whitney Biennial 2019. This study finds how the ‘myth of neutrality’ and ‘non-performativity of anti-racism’, creates barriers for social change. The study discusses the belief that museums are neutral and how social justice is treated as a ‘trend’ rather than a social problem that the museum is implicated in. These findings suggest that for museums to stay relevant they must be closely interconnected with the community.

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