Questioning the Entrance Narrative

Abstract

The experience of most museum visitors tends to be subtle, incremental, and supportive. Museums, as perceived and used by their current audiences, are instruments of stability, not revolution. In this way, perhaps, they parallel the implicit goals of the formal education system. Whether they intend to or not, successful museums will both reflect and subtly influence the viewpoints of the culture by reinforcing and supporting the views of those both sympathetic to and relatively knowledgeable about a particular subject. Museums have traditionally identified the inspirational aim as a key component of their educational missions. One of the founding fathers of museum education, John Cotton Dana, wrote in 1925 that "a good museum attracts, entertains, arouses curiosity, leads to questionings —and thus promotes learning". Some museum staff may be tempted to see their educational mission as the communication of the agreed truth to visitors.

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