The Museum in Transition: A Philosophical Perspective

by Hilde S. Hein

Book Overview

Since 1970, museums of all kinds have tried to become more responsive to the interests of a diverse public by shifting from the presentation of real things to the production of experiences. With exhibitions becoming people-centred, idea-oriented, and contextualized, the boundaries between museums and the real world are becoming eroded, and museum professionals now admit to having a hand in the creation of reality.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 156098371X
• ISBN13: 9781560983712
• Release Date: September 2000
• Publisher: Smithsonian Books (DC)
• Length: 203 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.2" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

a text to understand the present condition of museums

hein's text makes a general, but intersting and highly complete, overview of the present condition of museums. This texts refers to the past history of these institutions in order to promote a better understanding of them, and the role they play, in our contemporary cultural system. Arguing on the "trascendence of the object" hein makes an excellent analysis on the "museum experience" in order to understand this phenomenon providing a critical perspective on this issue. It is not too philosophical as the tittle claims, so it is not a difficult text to read and understand.