Museums in the Long Now
History in the Geological Age of Humans
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 4504553 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Libby Robin (0000-0002-5202-9185, Australian National University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2020 |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 359-381 |
| Publication date | 2020-11-19 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of the Philosophy of History (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1872-261X • E-ISSN: 1872-2636 |
| Publisher | Walter de Gruyter GmbH (PUBLISHER • DE) |
| DOI | 10.1163/18722636-12341448 |
| OpenAlex | W3106559888 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 6 |
History in times of crisis is practical: future action depends on historical framing. Moving beyond "human scales" to include the evolutionary and the geological, and beyond humans to include other species, demands different approaches and new "archives" like ice-cores. This paper considers history in the Long Now, and particularly how museums and big public arts institutions develop new sorts of history through practical story-telling, taking seriously the notion that "the central role of museums [is] both an expression of cultural identity and ... a powerful force for human development and education." The museum has a particular value as "slow media", deepening news stories in times of rapid change. The new epoch of Earth, the Anthropocene, where humans have become a geological force, poses challenges for exhibitions, but also reshapes museums themselves. Crucial to managing stories, collections and objects in Anthropocene times is the capacity to change course, to remain open to new developments, using performances, events and "pop-up" exhibitions alongside traditional museum offerings. New Museology regards stories as the fundamental unit of museums. Thus, the curation of stories is central work. No longer are museums defined solely by objects: the artistic and the ephemeral are all part of story-telling
Anthropocene · Archaeology · Art · Environmental ethics · Ephemeral key · Exhibition · Framing (construction · Media studies · Sociology · The arts · Visual arts · Archaeological Research and Protection · Computer Science · Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation · History · Museology · Museums and Cultural Heritage
| Unique citing works | 6 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1,2 |
| Citation span | 2021 - 2026 (6) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 6 |