October 2011

TRANSPORT and MOBILITY ON DISPLAY

FIVE BIG QUESTIONSSteven LubarBrown UniversityProvidence, RI USA

Who?

What?

When?

Where?

Why?

Who?

the people in this room, curators, museum educators, interpreters, experts

the other, the past, us in the past, the “community”, the object of display

the audience, readers, historic site and museum visitors, tourists

( )The first task of every museum is “adding to the happiness,

wisdom, and comfort of members of the community.”—John Cotton Dana, Director, Newark Museum, 1917

The museum must remain “firmly in the control of a trained elite [to] maintain standards of quality independent of the contingent values of daily life.” Museums “must direct public taste…and not be dictated [to] by it.”—Paul J. Sachs, Director, Harvard Museum

Studies Program, 1920s

( )

Museums should foster “the ability to live productively in a pluralist society and … contribute to the resolution of the challenges we face as global citizens… In every

aspect of their operations and programs, museums must combine a tradition of intellectual rigor with the inclusion of a broader spectrum of our diverse society.”

Every aspect of their work should be “supported both by rigorous scholarship and by respect for the many cultural and intellectual viewpoints that museum collections

stand for and stimulate.” —American Association of Museum’s Excellence and Equity, 1992

( )

“Preserve, interpret and create passion for Auburn, Cord and Duesenberg automobiles and their heritage of innovation, influence, design and competition”

Mission statement of the Auburn Cord Dusenberg Automobile Museum

(

)

“A spotlight on days gone by – reawakening memories, rekindling emotions and conjuring up that typical gurgly chugging sound that a Beetle boxer engine

makes.”Volkswagen AutoMuseum

( )

“Developing educational materials and conducting programs to increase the public's understanding of, and involvement in, the development of aviation and spaceflight” —

from the National Air and Space Museum mission statement

( )

“The museum works in collaboration with the Native peoples of the Western Hemisphere to protect and foster their cultures by reaffirming traditions and beliefs, encouraging contemporary artistic expression, and empowering the Indian voice.”

National Museum of the American Indian

( )

“Commitment to produce unparalleled entertainment experiences based on the rich legacy of quality creative content and exceptional storytelling.”

Disney

)

“I believe that museums have the potential to undergo a similar (r)evolution as that on the web, to transform from static content

authorities to dynamic platforms for content generation and sharing. I believe that visitors can become users, and museums

central to social interactions.”

Nina Simon, Museum 2.0, 2006

( )

Who?

What?

When?

Where?

Why?

What?

What kind of exhibits? What kind of objects?What kind of context?

Things… ...or people?

Things… ...or stories?

Breadth... ...or depth?

Makers… ...or users?

Real... ...or virtual?

Exciting... ...or

contemplative?

Lecture... ...or dialogue?

Authentic... ... or accurate?

Preserved... ...or put to use?

Exotic... ...or everyday?

Vehicle......or

infrastructure?

Historic Route Marker

Context... ...or community?

Context... ...or collection?

Who?

What?

When?

Where?

Why?

Too Old, not relevant, not interesting

for my parents“ol skool”

“Back in the day”Old of date

ClassicRetro

Current day, too recent, not history

yet

Yesterday’s NewsTo

o ol

d!

Too

new!

Just

righ

t!

Yest

erda

y

Tom

orro

w

Toda

y

Who?

What?

When?

Where?

Why?

Where?

Who?

What?

When?

Where?

Why?

Why?

Useful

Good for you

Fun

Who?

What?

When?

Where?

Why?

Thank you.