The Politics of Representation in Museums

Louise Tythacott

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

This entry begins by examining key words, 'politics', 'power' and 'representation', as they relate to the museum. It then moves on to explore how the politics of representation have been manifested in displays. A range of exhibitions is examined, particularly in national, art and ethnographic museums. The article argues posits the case that museums are not simply neutral containers of objects, but are ideologically loaded spaces, and it demonstrates how museum displays have, over the past decades, become politically charged battlegrounds between differing communities.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationEncyclopedia of Library and Information Sciences
EditorsMarcia J, Bates, Mary Maack
Place of PublicationLondon
PublisherTaylor & Francis
Pages4230-4241
Number of pages12
Volume6
Edition3
ISBN (Electronic)9780849397127
ISBN (Print)9780849397110
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010
Externally publishedYes

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