Philosopher in the museum

Zofia Poska
8th December 2011

Topic
Theoretical framework: new museology and the concept of critical museum
Case: Exhibition Making Things Public. Atmospheres of Democracy, ZKM Karlsruhe, 2005 curators: Bruno Latour & Peter Weibel

Research Questions
Was Latours exhibition a materialization of critical museum concept?
Can Actor-network theory propose solutions to the problems faced by critical museology?

New Museology
roots in late 1960s artistic institutional critiques close relation with New Art History movement name - The New Museology, Peter Vergo, 1989

Main ideas
denaturalisation of an institution (museums as ideological constructions)
problematisation of artistic value analysis of a social, political and cultural context of museum practice

Concept of critical museum

aim - to show problems and ask questions; to expose complexities and contradictions of objects empowerment of a visitor (active participation) transparency of decision making process (self-reflective position) embedded in and owned by community representation of different groups

Philosophical issues
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5s264AjaXI

From objects to things Problem of representation (political, scientific, artistic) Question of democratic assemblies

Exhibition Space

Phantom Public, Michel Jaffrenou, Thierry Coduys, 2005

Is it a critical show?