TOPIC: Art Museums
Select TWO topics from the list below. Respond to the prompts and answer the questions as specifically as you are able using course readings, online resources, and your own museum experiences as they pertain to the question. 1) Name and describe at least four different types of art museums, using actual examples and descriptions of how the museum you chose relates to the definition you are describing. For example, The Louvre is an encyclopedic museum in that it covers the entire span of civilization ranging from prehistory to twentieth century. Please note that a museum can still be an encyclopedic museum without covering all of history. Therefore, describe the subtle and site-specific qualities of the four museums you have chosen for your analysis. 2) What is the responsibility of a museum to its public? Find a museum that you think addresses this role well and describe how the museum makes those connections to its public. 3) Describe a museum exhibition that caused controversy, on any level, and how the institution reacted/resolved/or did not respond to the public complaint. Who were the players, community constituencies, artists, or other parties involved? What were their roles in resolving the situation (if any)? 4) How have museums (or a museum) addressed the flow of new cultures and citizens into their programs and offerings? How have their programs impacted the community or museum practice in general? Choose a specific example(s) from which to base your analysis. 5) What is a community based art museum and how does a museum achieve this status? Give an example of a museum that is especially successful in this role. 6) In planning an exhibition, the curator might take the following approach: thematic, chronological, or stylistic. Describe each term and provide an example of a recent exhibition that addresses each approach. You might start with a particular museum of interest and examine its recent schedule or previous exhibitions. Requirements Your paper should be 5-7 pages long (1250-1750 words) – about 3 pages for each topic. Include a Works Cited page, which will not contribute to the total word count. Include a title page (the first page) that includes your name, the name of the module and assignment, and which topics you are addressing in your essay. The title page does not contribute to the essay page/word count requirement. In addition to the course text Reinventing the Museum, you must include at least two additional sources. Please review Writing Resources and Notes on Art Citation as well as the SUNY Empire State College statement on Academic Integrity before submitting any work for this course. Be sure to cite all sources correctly so that your academic integrity is not called into question.
Encyclopedic museum: An encyclopedic museum is a museum that covers a wide range of topics and disciplines, including art, history, science, and culture. A good example of an encyclopedic museum is the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, which has a vast collection of art and artifacts from around the world, including ancient Egyptian artifacts, Greek and Roman sculpture, and European paintings.
Art museum: An art museum is a museum that focuses primarily on the display and preservation of visual arts, such as paintings, sculptures, and installations. A good example of an art museum is the Museo Reina Sofía in Madrid, which is dedicated to modern and contemporary art and features works by artists such as Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí.
History museum: A history museum is a museum that focuses on the study and preservation of historical objects and artifacts related to a particular period or culture. A good example of a history museum is the British Museum in London, which has a collection of over two million objects that span over two million years of human history.
Science museum: A science museum is a museum that focuses on the study and exhibition of scientific and technological subjects. A good example of a science museum is the Exploratorium in San Francisco, which is an interactive museum that explores a wide range of scientific and technological topics, including physics, biology, and psychology.
