Collecting together a group of talented writers, Museum, Media, Message considers, in depth, the most up-to-date approaches to museum communication including: museums as media; museums and audience; and the evaluation of museums.
Addressing the need for museums to develop better knowledge of visitor experience, this volume introduces a broad range of issues, and presents the ultimate how, why and who of museum communication.
Museum, Media, Message combines philosophical discussion, practical examples and case studies and examines museum communication in three sections:
analyzing how museums and galleries construct and transmit complex systems of value through processes of collection and exhibition
raising philosophical and management issues and exploration of work with specific audiences
introducing methods for studying the audiences' experiences of communication events in museums.
Perfect for people who want to develop a more critical and informed professional museum practice, and for students looking to enhance their skills of analysis and reflection, this book is of value to anyone interested in the current debates and issues of this new and growing field.
1. Museums and Communication - An Introductory Essay Part 1: Museums as Media 2. Collecting as Media and Message 3. The Museum Message between the Document and Information Exhibitions as Communicative Media 4. Observations on Semiotic Aspects in the Museum work of Otto Neurath 5. Early Museums and Nineteenth Century Media 6. New Technologies for Museum Communication 7. Education, Sunflowers and the New Vulgarity in Art Museums Part 2: Communication in Action 8. Changing Media, Changing Messages 9. Museums in Partnership 10. A Manager Discusses Museum Communication 11. Learning from each Other - Museums and Older Members of the Community - The People's Story 12. Museums and Disabled People: The Case for Partnerships and Collaboration 13. Integrating School Visits, Tourists and the Community at the ARC, York 14. Getting the Message: Planning a Responsive Service 15. Museums, Myths and Missionaries -Redressing the Past for a New South Africa Part 3: Evaluating the Communication Process 16. Evaluating Teaching and Learning in Museums 17. Responsive Evaluation in Museum Education - A Case Study 18. Museum as Media in Aesthetic Response 19. Evaluation of the School Work in `The Rutland Dinosaur Gallery' 20. The Evaluation of Museum-School Programmes: The Case of Historical Sites 21. Andragogy (Adult Education) in the Museum: A Critical Analysis and New Formulation 22. Communicating and Learning in Gallery 33: Evidence from a Visitor Study 23. Family Groups in Museums - An Indian Experience 24. Here to Help - Evaluation and Effectiveness
