If museums have accepted the position of being an informal learning environment, addressing all cultures there is an expectation that museums should also address queer culture. Informal learning environments in museums offer exhibits and programs that expand modern curriculum and address topics not traditionally included. There are many reasons to explain that lack of queer content in modern curriculum. Firstly, queer is a broad topic with several areas of history left unexplored. The biggest challenge to educators and museums alike, is condensing and synthesizing the information available. Secondly, the need to remain politically correct and positively educate students about these topics without inviting push back from differing ideologies creates a equal formidable challenge. These challenges also offer museums an opportunity activate their informal learning environment to fill the gap in modern education.
These issues are not exclusive to curriculum, many people are still unexposed to queer culture. Museums have an opportunity to create an enriching environment where ideas of queer are explored and celebrated.The increase of queer topics in museum exhibits, such as the 2010 National Portrait Gallery’s Hide and Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture and the 2011 Chicago History Museum's exhibit Out in Chicago support the trend to tackle these broad issues of condensing and synthesizing queer history in the multiple disciplines.
Creating museum experiences where the queer community can find their complicated histories is paramount for museums to maintain relevancy to the diverse queer community.This blog operates under the assumption that museums have accepted the responsibility to approach education, programming and exhibit that does not discriminate. The theme of acceptance has been an overarching in queer history being sought firstly by loved ones, followed by acceptance in the work place to general societal acceptance. My observations in museums leads me to believe that museums have moved past the initial acceptance of queer culture and now must face acceptance of a different variety - museums ought to accept their responsibility to informally educate, program and exhibit without discrimination. This blog aims to discuss the intricacies of histories, how museums continue to address queer culture and a review of the growing scholarship surrounding inclusion/queer culture. I hope this will be a learning experience for all. Let's discourse.
These issues are not exclusive to curriculum, many people are still unexposed to queer culture. Museums have an opportunity to create an enriching environment where ideas of queer are explored and celebrated.The increase of queer topics in museum exhibits, such as the 2010 National Portrait Gallery’s Hide and Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture and the 2011 Chicago History Museum's exhibit Out in Chicago support the trend to tackle these broad issues of condensing and synthesizing queer history in the multiple disciplines.
Creating museum experiences where the queer community can find their complicated histories is paramount for museums to maintain relevancy to the diverse queer community.This blog operates under the assumption that museums have accepted the responsibility to approach education, programming and exhibit that does not discriminate. The theme of acceptance has been an overarching in queer history being sought firstly by loved ones, followed by acceptance in the work place to general societal acceptance. My observations in museums leads me to believe that museums have moved past the initial acceptance of queer culture and now must face acceptance of a different variety - museums ought to accept their responsibility to informally educate, program and exhibit without discrimination. This blog aims to discuss the intricacies of histories, how museums continue to address queer culture and a review of the growing scholarship surrounding inclusion/queer culture. I hope this will be a learning experience for all. Let's discourse.
Let's!
ReplyDeleteIt would seem that the safest way for museums to navigate the representation of queer culture without the risk of public backlash would be introduce a third party/scape goat. haha. While not the most desirable approach, it's an option (one that I'm sure has been used).
ReplyDeleteAlso, it's a bit difficult for me to envision this queer representation, as most of the examples of 'queer' culture that are out there, visibly, in this format are so 'cutting edge' or... gritty, in your face, even repulsive - as if trying to incite argument and conflict. When I see these exhibits my first thought is whether or not I could see it in the DIA or if I myself would even want to see it. I suppose my point is that perhaps museums aren't the only ones who have to grow up in terms of the representation of queer culture.
So which parties have to grow in terms of queer representation?
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