Marzia Varutti
Biographic Data
| ID | 76883 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Marzia Varutti |
| GIVEN NAMES | Marzia |
| FAMILY NAME | Varutti |
| SIGNATURE | VARUTTI M |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Oslo |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-6620-3391 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 18 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 47 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 18 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1970 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
The Affective Affordances of Ecopoetry. Notes from Simon Armitage’s "Cryosphere"
Scientific communication about the ongoing ecological crisis is not working effectively; other approaches are needed in order to reduce psychological distancing and indifference. The article moves from the premise that ecopoetry is such an approach because it has the ability to provoke an emotional reaction in readers—that is, it carries affective affordances. But how does an ecopoem engender affective engagement in readers? Theoretically, the ar…
Theorizing emotional well-being in the museum workforce
Well-being has emerged as a key concern in museum theory and practice. Until now however the focus has been on the well-being of museum visitors, whilst the well-being of museum workers has received less attention. This article aims to contribute a specific focus on the emotional well-being (understood here as mental health and emotional resilience) of the museum workforce, as museum work can be emotionally draining, to the point of compromising …
The social life of a wood: A biographical approach to human-place relations at the Bois Chamblard, Switzerland
Losing glaciers: A call for emotional engagement and expanded collaboration in research on the ecological crisis
This article focuses on one of the most evident aspects of the ongoing climate crisis: the quick reduction or loss of glacier masses in different areas of the planet. In this context we call for the pertinence and relevance of emotional engagement and expanded collaboration in research on ecological issues. Integrating disciplinary perspectives on glaciers, drawn from the environmental sciences, the environmental humanities, and forensic archeolo…
(Re-)Learning to Relate to the More-Than-Human: Some Conceptual, Affective, and Practice-Based Perspectives
The lack of concerted action by the majority of the population in the face of the global ecological catastrophe compels us to ponder the deeper cause of inaction: a troubled relationship with the more-than-human world. Redressing this relationship and (re-)learning to relate to the more-than-human calls for a critical analysis of current modes of relation, as well as a quest for different, more ecological (ethical, responsible, reciprocal, affect…
Awe in the museum: Casting Light on the Role of the Curator
Most discussions of awe in psychology and philosophy refer to experiences of this emotion occurring in museums; however these discussions tend to focus solely on the exhibit (e.g., the art masterpiece) as the emotion elicitor, overlooking the spatial context of the exhibition – hence overlooking the role and agency of the curator. Engaging with this oversight, I argue that curatorial intervention is crucial to emotion elicitation in museums and s…
Claiming ecological grief: Why are we not mourning (more and more publicly) for ecological destruction
Eco-anxiety, grief and despair are increasing, yet these emotions tend to remain private, rarely expressed in public. Why is it important and necessary to grieve for ecological loss? Why are we not—as individuals and societies—coming together to express and share our grief for ecological destruction? I address these questions from three angles. Firstly, I draw on recent literature on ecological grief and prior work on grief for human lives, to ar…
The affective turn in museums and the rise of affective curatorship
This article examines the affective turn in museums: what does it mean for museum theory and practice? How can we theorize its effects? In order to address these questions, the article develops the concept of ‘affective curatorship’, denoting curatorial approaches specifically aimed to affect visitors emotionally. Drawing on recent museological literature and exhibition projects in Europe and North America, the article exemplifies the qualities o…
Vers une muséologie des émotions
Cette note de recherche se base sur une lecture critique des œuvres académiques récentes en langue anglophone portant sur le rôle des émotions dans les musées. Comment peut-on expliquer la montée des émotions dans les pratiques muséales de ces dernières décennies ? Quelle place les émotions ont-elles dans les expériences de visite aujourd’hui ? Quelles sont les conditions pour l’épanouissement d’une muséographie des émotions ? Mon objectif est d’…
Gradients of alterity
This chapter proposes to extend Arjun Appadurai's concept of "regime of value" to museum displays by means of its reformulation as "regime of representation". It examines the as an analytical concept in a study of the way Norwegian museums tackle cultural difference. The chapter shows that different combinations of display techniques and narratives constitute different regimes of representation in museums. It follows that – applying Appadurai's t…
Authentic reproductions: Museum Collection Practices as Authentication
This article investigates the concept of cultural authenticity in museums through an analysis of how indigenous cultural objects in Taiwan are being authenticated by museums as ‘indigenous cultural heritage’.In Taiwan, and internationally, indigenous artists and artisans are engaged in the revival of indigenous cultural heritage. Museums are participating in such revival through the acquisition and commission of ‘heritage objects’, newly made art…
Crafting heritage: Artisans and the making of Indigenous heritage in contemporary Taiwan
Since the 1990s, Indigenous groups in Taiwan have been increasingly engaged in retrieving and reviving cultural practices that are considered 'traditional' and markers of Indigenous identities. This article takes such recent and ongoing revival of cultural practices and connected material culture amongst Taiwanese Indigenous groups as the departure point to argue that the idea of a 'contemporary Indigenous heritage' is constructed (notably by Ind…
Polysemic Objects and Partial Translations: Museums and the Interpretation of Indigenous Material Culture in Taiwan
This article explores the polysemic character of objects through an analysis of multiple interpretations of indigenous material culture in contemporary Taiwan. My study focuses on a specific type of object—the canoe of the Tao indigenous group of Taiwan—and its interpretations inside and outside of museums. Theoretically, my analysis draws on the concepts of polysemy, boundary objects, and cultural translation to examine the different meanings an…
Museums in China: The Politics of Representation after Mao
An examination of museums in China, surveying their development from the nineteenth century, and looking in particular at their incredible recent proliferation. Museums in China have undergone tremendous transformations since they first appeared in the country in the late nineteenth century. Futuristic, state-of-the-art museums have today become symbols of China's global cultural, economic and technological prominence, and over the last two decad…
Miniatures of the nation: Ethnic minority figurines, mannequins and dioramas in Chinese museums
This paper uses Chinese ethnic minority museums as case study to reflect on the significance of the use of figurines, mannequins and dioramas as modes of representation of individuals and collectivities in museums. By proposing the concept of miniature and exploring its diverse facets and conceptual implications in the context of specific examples of museum displays of Chinese ethnic minorities, the analysis reveals how specific museological prac…
Using Different Pasts in a Similar Way: Museum Representations of National History in Norway and China
This article explores how national histories are constructed in the museums of Norway. It does so through a comparative perspective, whereby museum displays of national past in Norway are being compared to museum displays of national past in the People's Republic of China. This will involve comparing narratives, museological approaches, rationale and purposes of museum displays in the two countries. Fieldwork research in museums in Norway and Chi…
Controversial indigeneity. Museums representing non-officially recognized indigenous groups in Taiwan
This article explores how museums in Taiwan represent a group, called Pingpu, whose indigenous status is highly contested. Pingpu specific cultural features have almost disappeared as a result of centuries of exchanges with Han Chinese settlers. As a consequence, Pingpu groups have not received official indigenous recognition by the Taiwanese government. Yet Pingpu groups are actively seeking recognition through public demonstrations and promotin…
Musings on museology
The affective turn in museums and the rise of affective curatorship
This article examines the affective turn in museums: what does it mean for museum theory and practice? How can we theorize its effects? In order to address these questions, the article develops the concept of ‘affective curatorship’, denoting curatorial approaches specifically aimed to affect visitors emotionally. Drawing on recent museological literature and exhibition projects in Europe and North America, the article exemplifies the qualities o…
Claiming ecological grief: Why are we not mourning (more and more publicly) for ecological destruction
Eco-anxiety, grief and despair are increasing, yet these emotions tend to remain private, rarely expressed in public. Why is it important and necessary to grieve for ecological loss? Why are we not—as individuals and societies—coming together to express and share our grief for ecological destruction? I address these questions from three angles. Firstly, I draw on recent literature on ecological grief and prior work on grief for human lives, to ar…
Crafting heritage: Artisans and the making of Indigenous heritage in contemporary Taiwan
Since the 1990s, Indigenous groups in Taiwan have been increasingly engaged in retrieving and reviving cultural practices that are considered 'traditional' and markers of Indigenous identities. This article takes such recent and ongoing revival of cultural practices and connected material culture amongst Taiwanese Indigenous groups as the departure point to argue that the idea of a 'contemporary Indigenous heritage' is constructed (notably by Ind…
Vers une muséologie des émotions
Cette note de recherche se base sur une lecture critique des œuvres académiques récentes en langue anglophone portant sur le rôle des émotions dans les musées. Comment peut-on expliquer la montée des émotions dans les pratiques muséales de ces dernières décennies ? Quelle place les émotions ont-elles dans les expériences de visite aujourd’hui ? Quelles sont les conditions pour l’épanouissement d’une muséographie des émotions ? Mon objectif est d’…
Authentic reproductions: Museum Collection Practices as Authentication
This article investigates the concept of cultural authenticity in museums through an analysis of how indigenous cultural objects in Taiwan are being authenticated by museums as ‘indigenous cultural heritage’.In Taiwan, and internationally, indigenous artists and artisans are engaged in the revival of indigenous cultural heritage. Museums are participating in such revival through the acquisition and commission of ‘heritage objects’, newly made art…
(Re-)Learning to Relate to the More-Than-Human: Some Conceptual, Affective, and Practice-Based Perspectives
The lack of concerted action by the majority of the population in the face of the global ecological catastrophe compels us to ponder the deeper cause of inaction: a troubled relationship with the more-than-human world. Redressing this relationship and (re-)learning to relate to the more-than-human calls for a critical analysis of current modes of relation, as well as a quest for different, more ecological (ethical, responsible, reciprocal, affect…
Controversial indigeneity. Museums representing non-officially recognized indigenous groups in Taiwan
This article explores how museums in Taiwan represent a group, called Pingpu, whose indigenous status is highly contested. Pingpu specific cultural features have almost disappeared as a result of centuries of exchanges with Han Chinese settlers. As a consequence, Pingpu groups have not received official indigenous recognition by the Taiwanese government. Yet Pingpu groups are actively seeking recognition through public demonstrations and promotin…
Controversial indigeneity. Museums representing non-officially recognized indigenous groups in Taiwan
This article explores how museums in Taiwan represent a group, called Pingpu, whose indigenous status is highly contested. Pingpu specific cultural features have almost disappeared as a result of centuries of exchanges with Han Chinese settlers. As a consequence, Pingpu groups have not received official indigenous recognition by the Taiwanese government. Yet Pingpu groups are actively seeking recognition through public demonstrations and promotin…
Musings on museology
Using Different Pasts in a Similar Way: Museum Representations of National History in Norway and China
This article explores how national histories are constructed in the museums of Norway. It does so through a comparative perspective, whereby museum displays of national past in Norway are being compared to museum displays of national past in the People's Republic of China. This will involve comparing narratives, museological approaches, rationale and purposes of museum displays in the two countries. Fieldwork research in museums in Norway and Chi…
Miniatures of the nation: Ethnic minority figurines, mannequins and dioramas in Chinese museums
This paper uses Chinese ethnic minority museums as case study to reflect on the significance of the use of figurines, mannequins and dioramas as modes of representation of individuals and collectivities in museums. By proposing the concept of miniature and exploring its diverse facets and conceptual implications in the context of specific examples of museum displays of Chinese ethnic minorities, the analysis reveals how specific museological prac…
Polysemic Objects and Partial Translations: Museums and the Interpretation of Indigenous Material Culture in Taiwan
This article explores the polysemic character of objects through an analysis of multiple interpretations of indigenous material culture in contemporary Taiwan. My study focuses on a specific type of object—the canoe of the Tao indigenous group of Taiwan—and its interpretations inside and outside of museums. Theoretically, my analysis draws on the concepts of polysemy, boundary objects, and cultural translation to examine the different meanings an…
Museums in China: The Politics of Representation after Mao
An examination of museums in China, surveying their development from the nineteenth century, and looking in particular at their incredible recent proliferation. Museums in China have undergone tremendous transformations since they first appeared in the country in the late nineteenth century. Futuristic, state-of-the-art museums have today become symbols of China's global cultural, economic and technological prominence, and over the last two decad…
Crafting heritage: Artisans and the making of Indigenous heritage in contemporary Taiwan
Since the 1990s, Indigenous groups in Taiwan have been increasingly engaged in retrieving and reviving cultural practices that are considered 'traditional' and markers of Indigenous identities. This article takes such recent and ongoing revival of cultural practices and connected material culture amongst Taiwanese Indigenous groups as the departure point to argue that the idea of a 'contemporary Indigenous heritage' is constructed (notably by Ind…
Gradients of alterity
This chapter proposes to extend Arjun Appadurai's concept of "regime of value" to museum displays by means of its reformulation as "regime of representation". It examines the as an analytical concept in a study of the way Norwegian museums tackle cultural difference. The chapter shows that different combinations of display techniques and narratives constitute different regimes of representation in museums. It follows that – applying Appadurai's t…
Authentic reproductions: Museum Collection Practices as Authentication
This article investigates the concept of cultural authenticity in museums through an analysis of how indigenous cultural objects in Taiwan are being authenticated by museums as ‘indigenous cultural heritage’.In Taiwan, and internationally, indigenous artists and artisans are engaged in the revival of indigenous cultural heritage. Museums are participating in such revival through the acquisition and commission of ‘heritage objects’, newly made art…
Vers une muséologie des émotions
Cette note de recherche se base sur une lecture critique des œuvres académiques récentes en langue anglophone portant sur le rôle des émotions dans les musées. Comment peut-on expliquer la montée des émotions dans les pratiques muséales de ces dernières décennies ? Quelle place les émotions ont-elles dans les expériences de visite aujourd’hui ? Quelles sont les conditions pour l’épanouissement d’une muséographie des émotions ? Mon objectif est d’…
Claiming ecological grief: Why are we not mourning (more and more publicly) for ecological destruction
Eco-anxiety, grief and despair are increasing, yet these emotions tend to remain private, rarely expressed in public. Why is it important and necessary to grieve for ecological loss? Why are we not—as individuals and societies—coming together to express and share our grief for ecological destruction? I address these questions from three angles. Firstly, I draw on recent literature on ecological grief and prior work on grief for human lives, to ar…
The affective turn in museums and the rise of affective curatorship
This article examines the affective turn in museums: what does it mean for museum theory and practice? How can we theorize its effects? In order to address these questions, the article develops the concept of ‘affective curatorship’, denoting curatorial approaches specifically aimed to affect visitors emotionally. Drawing on recent museological literature and exhibition projects in Europe and North America, the article exemplifies the qualities o…
Awe in the museum: Casting Light on the Role of the Curator
Most discussions of awe in psychology and philosophy refer to experiences of this emotion occurring in museums; however these discussions tend to focus solely on the exhibit (e.g., the art masterpiece) as the emotion elicitor, overlooking the spatial context of the exhibition – hence overlooking the role and agency of the curator. Engaging with this oversight, I argue that curatorial intervention is crucial to emotion elicitation in museums and s…
Losing glaciers: A call for emotional engagement and expanded collaboration in research on the ecological crisis
This article focuses on one of the most evident aspects of the ongoing climate crisis: the quick reduction or loss of glacier masses in different areas of the planet. In this context we call for the pertinence and relevance of emotional engagement and expanded collaboration in research on ecological issues. Integrating disciplinary perspectives on glaciers, drawn from the environmental sciences, the environmental humanities, and forensic archeolo…
(Re-)Learning to Relate to the More-Than-Human: Some Conceptual, Affective, and Practice-Based Perspectives
The lack of concerted action by the majority of the population in the face of the global ecological catastrophe compels us to ponder the deeper cause of inaction: a troubled relationship with the more-than-human world. Redressing this relationship and (re-)learning to relate to the more-than-human calls for a critical analysis of current modes of relation, as well as a quest for different, more ecological (ethical, responsible, reciprocal, affect…
The Affective Affordances of Ecopoetry. Notes from Simon Armitage’s "Cryosphere"
Scientific communication about the ongoing ecological crisis is not working effectively; other approaches are needed in order to reduce psychological distancing and indifference. The article moves from the premise that ecopoetry is such an approach because it has the ability to provoke an emotional reaction in readers—that is, it carries affective affordances. But how does an ecopoem engender affective engagement in readers? Theoretically, the ar…
Theorizing emotional well-being in the museum workforce
Well-being has emerged as a key concern in museum theory and practice. Until now however the focus has been on the well-being of museum visitors, whilst the well-being of museum workers has received less attention. This article aims to contribute a specific focus on the emotional well-being (understood here as mental health and emotional resilience) of the museum workforce, as museum work can be emotionally draining, to the point of compromising …
The social life of a wood: A biographical approach to human-place relations at the Bois Chamblard, Switzerland
Museums and Cultural Heritage (8 works) · Art (7 works) · Sociology (7 works) · Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation (6 works) · History (6 works) · Archaeology (5 works) · Anthropology (4 works) · Ecology (4 works) · Political science (4 works) · Aesthetics (3 works)