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Toy Story

Childhood versus Children in Toy Museums

Bibliographic Data

ID4886791
AuthorsAnne Jodon Cole (0000-0001-6693-7072, University of Humanistic Studies, corresponding author), Eva Petersson Brooks (Aalborg University)
Year2017
Volume14
Issue2
Pages294-312
Publication date2017-06-09
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueMuseum and Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1479-8360 • E-ISSN: 1479-8360
PublisherUniversity of Leicester (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.29311/mas.v14i2.675
OpenAlexW2245888917
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited7

Toys are considered to be children's cultural objects, yet when placed in a toy museum context they become a collection for adult viewing. This article uses Kress and van Leeuwens' concept of 'semiotic landscape' wherein the exhibit provides a specific context of communication that becomes a mediating device between adults and children. The question then becomes, how does a display of static toys speak to a child's culture of play? Through interviews with toy museum curators and personal observations it was found that the exhibition was designed to have adults share and reflect stories about the toys with children. Such activity reflects a representation of toys as collections for adults (child's perspective) rather than the playthings of children (children's perspectives). Material culture of children was implicitly represented through playful, sensory, and affective engagement.Key words: toy exhibits, material culture of children, semiotic landscape, play, narratives

Aesthetics · Art · Exhibition · Linguistics · Literature · Narrative · Semiotics · Sociology · Visual arts · Art Education and Development · Crafts, Textile, and Design · History · Museums and Cultural Heritage · Psychology

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Unique citing works1
Citations per year0,25
Citation span2022 - 2022 (1)
Citation velocityhistorical
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 1
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