Discussion

Alexanderreading.docx

Alexander reading:

This are some answers for question 1 you just need to write it in a different way and different words (paraphrase):

· The “curatorial voice” is a singular voice with one perspective. This is its own self destruction. Now that museums have democratized, there are many voices, but even this can have its own downfall. With many voices, you get many perspectives and conversations both during the exhibition creation process and while an exhibition is on display. What you also get is many voices and perspectives, which can cause arguments and conflicts. However, getting through these conflicts can sometimes result in really good exhibits.Due to the democratization of museums, visitors are no longer only seeing one predominate voice and they may sometimes even get involved in the conversation. Over my lifetime, so far, I have seen many museums grow and change their exhibitions both permanent and temporary to engage and involve the visitor more. I have also had the opportunity to do an internship a few years ago where I got to experience the collaboration between curators, exhibition designers, educators, editors, building managers, and others. Though I did see this process as it was drawing closer to its opening, it was still interesting to see the many voices that went into the objects chosen, the design of the space, and the labels written.

· The curatorial voice can be problematic because it can have a one-voice-fits-all approach and make the story of an exhibition one sided. In some extreme cases, the narrative a curatorial voice makes can be wrong when describing a culture that is not their own. Instead of one curator making the only narrative experience, there are a number of other researchers and cultural historians adding to that narrative, as well as visitors being able to create their own. Though I am sure in my many experiences at museums more than one exhibit has fallen pray to the curatorial voice, I cannot say with any confidence that I noticed. I suppose during my time at the Newport Mansions I can say that the narrative of the house was very separated from the real world. There were stories about people treating the Vanderbilts like celebrities, even audio of servants writing about the honor of working for the family. It was very separated from the lives of ordinary people and only during the Servant Life tour was the other side really shown. Also, Newport was one of the busiest slave ports in the north, but this is something that is not necessarily at the forefront of the narrative of Newport either.