Professor: Jan MarontateProfessor: Jan MarontateSchool of CommunicationSchool of CommunicationSimon Fraser UniversitySimon Fraser University

Visitor to Digital Dialogues Exhibition

Week 2: Collecting & Week 2: Collecting & Exhibiting Things: Theories Exhibiting Things: Theories of Culture & Museumsof Culture & Museums

Last Day:Last Day:

Course AdministrationCourse Administration– Course WebsiteCourse Website – Handout # 1Handout # 1: Syllabus, Grading, Schedule, : Syllabus, Grading, Schedule,

######ERROR in 1ERROR in 1stst version###: Quiz #2 is on version###: Quiz #2 is on Nov. 7Nov. 7th th not Nov. 10not Nov. 10thth !!! !!!

ReadingsReadings Weeks 1,2,3 (Weeks 1,2,3 (HandoutHandout ##22)) Fieldwork:Fieldwork: Visit to the Vancouver Art Gallery Visit to the Vancouver Art Gallery

Today: Today:

Lecture (1Lecture (1stst part of class) part of class) Workshop in Computer Lab (on course Workshop in Computer Lab (on course

requirements & website creation)requirements & website creation)– Meet in 7Meet in 7thth floor lab (room7050) at 11:40 floor lab (room7050) at 11:40– Note: Lab is only accessible from the elevator.Note: Lab is only accessible from the elevator.

Lecture OutlineLecture Outline

1-Defining Culture1-Defining Culture: theories of culture, : theories of culture, communication & societycommunication & society

2-Culture & “Things”--2-Culture & “Things”--Collecting Culture & Collecting Culture & Cultural Heritage “Institutions”: Traditions, Cultural Heritage “Institutions”: Traditions, Mandates & Professional PracticesMandates & Professional Practices

3-Challenges3-Challenges of Digital Media, Variable or of Digital Media, Variable or Time-based Media for Time-based Media for Cultural Heritage Cultural Heritage Preservation TraditionsPreservation Traditions

Part 1: Defining Culture—Part 1: Defining Culture—General Notions General Notions (Hooper-Greenhill reading)(Hooper-Greenhill reading)

The “High Culture Model”The “High Culture Model” – Culture as “civilization”, hierarchical notions Culture as “civilization”, hierarchical notions

focussing on the arts, higher learning, institutions focussing on the arts, higher learning, institutions & integration with organizations associated with & integration with organizations associated with elites (even if they originated in popular or mass elites (even if they originated in popular or mass culture)culture)

Everyday Life (Popular Culture)Everyday Life (Popular Culture): Lived : Lived experience, belief systems & practicesexperience, belief systems & practices– ““ordinary people”, meanings (values or beliefs) & ordinary people”, meanings (values or beliefs) &

practicespractices

Theoretical Definitions of Theoretical Definitions of Culture Culture (Raymond Williams)(Raymond Williams)

process of intellectual, spiritual and aesthetic process of intellectual, spiritual and aesthetic “development” (or change“development” (or change)—”spiritual” rather than )—”spiritual” rather than material, “selective traditions: material, “selective traditions:

Recorded cultureRecorded culture (material & symbolic) : (material & symbolic) : “products”`--works--(intellectual esp. artistic) “products”`--works--(intellectual esp. artistic) embedded in practices, institutions, media, etc.embedded in practices, institutions, media, etc.

Everyday values, practices, Everyday values, practices, way of lifeway of life of a group of of a group of people, period or group --lived experience at a people, period or group --lived experience at a particular time & placeparticular time & place

(Also: Signifiying systems: performed, constructing (Also: Signifiying systems: performed, constructing meanings)meanings)

Manifestations of CultureManifestations of CultureManifestations of CultureManifestations of Culture

symbolic culturesymbolic culture– values, beliefs, ways of values, beliefs, ways of

reasoning, style, tastes, reasoning, style, tastes, values, meaningvalues, meaning

material culturematerial culture– ““things”, techniques things”, techniques

Combinations of symbolic Combinations of symbolic & material (Practices & & material (Practices & beliefs, things as evidence)beliefs, things as evidence)

Roots of Some Scholarly Roots of Some Scholarly Approaches : Theories of Meaning-Approaches : Theories of Meaning-makingmaking PsychoanalysisPsychoanalysis: : analyses symbolic meanings as symptoms of analyses symbolic meanings as symptoms of

unconscious “displaced” fears & desires (Freud)unconscious “displaced” fears & desires (Freud) Structuralism & post structuralismStructuralism & post structuralism (de Saussure) (de Saussure)

– Structures (langue) underly everyday communication (Parole)Structures (langue) underly everyday communication (Parole)– Used by others in different ways (Foucault, Lacan, Kristeva etc..)Used by others in different ways (Foucault, Lacan, Kristeva etc..)

Discourse analysisDiscourse analysis– Way of representing (talking about) things creates knowledge & Way of representing (talking about) things creates knowledge &

power relationspower relations Semiology & semioticsSemiology & semiotics

– Sign = Signified + signifierSign = Signified + signifier– Manifest & latent meaningsManifest & latent meanings– Levels of significationLevels of signification

Denotation (obvious meaning)Denotation (obvious meaning) Connotation (hidden meaning)Connotation (hidden meaning)

Examples: Critical Evaluation Examples: Critical Evaluation of Cultural “Things or of Cultural “Things or Practices”Practices”

””reading” or reading” or “deconstructing” “deconstructing” cultural works & cultural works & practicespractices

Other Approaches: Social Other Approaches: Social Studies & History of Media, Studies & History of Media, Technology & CommunicationTechnology & Communication

Technological changeTechnological change (change in material (change in material culture, interplay of technology & culture)culture, interplay of technology & culture)

Media studiesMedia studies (as a technology for (as a technology for communicating ideas)communicating ideas)

Globalization Globalization (technology, communication as (technology, communication as material & symbolic practice)material & symbolic practice)

Persistance of Culture as Persistance of Culture as Civilization TraditionCivilization Tradition

one “good” set of values + practicesone “good” set of values + practices education/culture = good citizens + education/culture = good citizens +

responsible voters responsible voters mistrust + dislike of popular culturemistrust + dislike of popular culture Theoretical work: Matthew Arnold, LeavismTheoretical work: Matthew Arnold, Leavism

Popular Culture as threat to Popular Culture as threat to “civilization” theories“civilization” theories popular culture popular culture political disorder / anarchy political disorder / anarchy

(Matthew Arnold)(Matthew Arnold) shared tastes, practices (elite) shared tastes, practices (elite) “good citizenship” “good citizenship” against democracy in culture (Leavis)against democracy in culture (Leavis)

– nostalgia for past nostalgia for past – puritanical dislike of mass culture, “low-brow tastes”puritanical dislike of mass culture, “low-brow tastes”

culture = what is best and ability to recognize itculture = what is best and ability to recognize it

Defining Defining PopularPopular Culture? Culture?

1. 1. culture that is culture that is well-likedwell-liked?? (quantitative (quantitative dimension)dimension)– how to measure this (# of fans, power of how to measure this (# of fans, power of

partisans, costs, etc..)partisans, costs, etc..) 2. 2. practices, values & things that are not “high practices, values & things that are not “high

culture”?culture”?– But changes in “status” (ex. Opera, Jazz)But changes in “status” (ex. Opera, Jazz)

Defining Popular Culture Defining Popular Culture (cont’d)(cont’d)

3. 3. popular culture as popular culture as Mass cultureMass culture– commercial dimension (capitalism)commercial dimension (capitalism)– notion that audience is non-discriminatingnotion that audience is non-discriminating– but what about audiences who know what they but what about audiences who know what they

like?(ex.box office flops)like?(ex.box office flops)– association with North American (U.S-dominated) association with North American (U.S-dominated)

valuesvalues

Defining Popular Culture Defining Popular Culture (cont’d)(cont’d) 4. Popular culture as 4. Popular culture as “from the people”“from the people”

– who are the “people”?who are the “people”? 5. Popular culture as 5. Popular culture as site of strugglesite of struggle between between

“dominant forces” and “forces of resistance”“dominant forces” and “forces of resistance” 6. 6. Postmodernist & Post-colonist notions -- Postmodernist & Post-colonist notions --

end of distinction between different forms of end of distinction between different forms of cultureculture

Criticism of Mass Culture (pt of Criticism of Mass Culture (pt of view of “Civilization” Tradition)view of “Civilization” Tradition)

threat to high culturethreat to high culture exploits peopleexploits people

– mindless hedonism mindless hedonism – addictive & debilitatingaddictive & debilitating

promotes “bad” social habits promotes “bad” social habits – against public good, damaging to individualagainst public good, damaging to individual

Forms/types of CultureForms/types of CultureForms/types of CultureForms/types of Culture– Dominated -popular culture, media culture, mass Dominated -popular culture, media culture, mass

culture, low browculture, low brow– Dominant--high Culture, learned Culture, high Dominant--high Culture, learned Culture, high

browbrow– ““Outsider” forms--Traditional and Folk CultureOutsider” forms--Traditional and Folk Culture

Inequalities in Traditional Inequalities in Traditional Typologies of CultureTypologies of CultureInequalities in Traditional Inequalities in Traditional Typologies of CultureTypologies of Culture

implied rankingimplied ranking ?evolutionary model for cultural change ??evolutionary model for cultural change ? ?Western ?Western canons?canons? politics of diversity-- postcolonialist, feminist, politics of diversity-- postcolonialist, feminist,

queer studies etc…queer studies etc…

Cultural Things & Cultural Things & “Representation”“Representation” Two main meaningsTwo main meanings

– Symbolic “thing” or textSymbolic “thing” or text– Process of presentingProcess of presenting

Connection with “realism”Connection with “realism”– Does representation “constitute” reality?Does representation “constitute” reality?– Is it separate from “reality”?Is it separate from “reality”?– Is there a separate “objective” (non subjective) Is there a separate “objective” (non subjective)

reality?reality?

Culture as Lived Experience Culture as Lived Experience (Raymond Williams)(Raymond Williams)

human agency (active involvement)human agency (active involvement) people not just consumers --create & people not just consumers --create &

transform culturetransform culture focus on Feelings/Experiencefocus on Feelings/Experience

– shared values of social group shared values of social group – collective unconsciouscollective unconscious– shared ideologyshared ideology

Early Use of Popular Culture in Early Use of Popular Culture in Educating Children & working Educating Children & working classclass ““bad” examples -- to condemn itbad” examples -- to condemn it defense of popular culture as educational tool defense of popular culture as educational tool

( Stuart Hall & Paddy Whannel)( Stuart Hall & Paddy Whannel) idea of engaging people to lead them to idea of engaging people to lead them to

“better things”“better things” Problems: Problems:

– implied hierarchy of taste (high culture at top of a implied hierarchy of taste (high culture at top of a single scale)single scale)

Definitions of Culture & Key issues in the Definitions of Culture & Key issues in the content contemporary Cultural Heritage content contemporary Cultural Heritage collectionscollections Identity politicsIdentity politics

– production & reproduction)production & reproduction) interpretation of meaningsinterpretation of meanings

– conscious & unconscious mental processesconscious & unconscious mental processes– Hermeneutics Hermeneutics

culture & historyculture & history – Tradition, ideology, power (hegemony)Tradition, ideology, power (hegemony)– cross-cultural communication, hegemony, cross-cultural communication, hegemony,

globalizationglobalization

Part 2: Culture & Collections of Part 2: Culture & Collections of “Things”--“Things”-- But Collecting Culture & Cultural Heritage But Collecting Culture & Cultural Heritage

“Institutions”“Institutions”– Origins of collections and exhibitionary institutionsOrigins of collections and exhibitionary institutions– Traditions, mandates & codes of ethicsTraditions, mandates & codes of ethics– Retaining old collections & building new? Retaining old collections & building new?

Depends on specific mandate & cultural contextDepends on specific mandate & cultural context PreservationPreservation of material culture? of material culture? Re-interpretation Re-interpretation of meanings of collectionsof meanings of collections Democratization & education of Democratization & education of publicspublics

Traditions (the case of artworks & cultural artefacts in museum contexts)

2020thth c. notions of collecting c. notions of collecting

“cultural things”“cultural things” original object or artifact as original object or artifact as

authoritative, authentic, authoritative, authentic, unchanging record unchanging record “frozen in “frozen in time”time”

authority or “aura” of creator authority or “aura” of creator (Walter Benjamin)(Walter Benjamin)

– record of artists’ intention, actrecord of artists’ intention, act Variations in interpretations Variations in interpretations

of meanings of “things”of meanings of “things”– Classification (artistic vs. Classification (artistic vs.

“historic” artifact)“historic” artifact)– western, non-western criteria, western, non-western criteria,

(different definitions of art vs. (different definitions of art vs. artifact in “primitive” cultures)artifact in “primitive” cultures)

Social Organization of Heritage Social Organization of Heritage PreservationPreservation Conventions, normsConventions, norms

– Practices, codes or ethics & mandatesPractices, codes or ethics & mandates institutional frameworksinstitutional frameworks

– Division of labour, hierarchical organizationDivision of labour, hierarchical organization premised on old notions of “premised on old notions of “authenticity” & authenticity” &

connections to “reality”connections to “reality” – object as primary record of creative act/lived object as primary record of creative act/lived

experienceexperience– preserve state of object at moment of creation preserve state of object at moment of creation

(?)(?)

Questioning Questioning Cultural Cultural Heritage from Heritage from ThingsThings

Records of lived experience Records of lived experience and creative practices are and creative practices are fragmentary, partialfragmentary, partial

Why? Why? – Accidental? Deliberate? Accidental? Deliberate? – Contextual? (institutionalized Contextual? (institutionalized

racism, notions of what is racism, notions of what is important or who matters? important or who matters? Material constraints (war, Material constraints (war, poverty etc…)poverty etc…)

– Other?Other? Johann Heinrich Füssli (1741 - 1825):The Artist Weeping at the grandeur of ancient ruins, 1778/80 http://www.kunsthaus.ch/

Objects/Artifacts as cultural Objects/Artifacts as cultural heritage (?)heritage (?) Records of life & works Records of life & works

– sources of “information”sources of “information”– ““traceurs”, “dispositifs”, traceurs”, “dispositifs”, devices for tracking social, artistic, devices for tracking social, artistic,

scientific practices & values scientific practices & values TensionsTensions

– knowledge, practices & objectsknowledge, practices & objects– tangible & tangible & intangibleintangible cultural heritage cultural heritage

Different values according to Different values according to the “value” of the objectthe “value” of the object

National Museum of Air & Space, Smithsonian Institution

Scientific? Artistic?Scientific? Artistic?

Ethnographic?Ethnographic? Status of the Status of the

object in the object in the meaning-making meaning-making framework in framework in which it is viewedwhich it is viewed

Museums as Cultural authorities & Museums as Cultural authorities & Institutions for intercultural Institutions for intercultural communication (History)communication (History)

League of Nations after WWILeague of Nations after WWI (c. 1920s) (c. 1920s)– Social Agenda for the promotions of peace, recognition of Social Agenda for the promotions of peace, recognition of

difference & distinctiveness)difference & distinctiveness) ““Civilizing” missionCivilizing” mission

– Education in the high culture modelEducation in the high culture model

– Governmental efforts to control & regulate “norms of social behaviour” Governmental efforts to control & regulate “norms of social behaviour” accept ruling-class authorityaccept ruling-class authority Reshape norms of behaviourReshape norms of behaviour

Museums as locus for intercultural communicationMuseums as locus for intercultural communication : :– cultural heritage as a global rightcultural heritage as a global right– place of all time (heterotopia)– Foucault or “timeless”place of all time (heterotopia)– Foucault or “timeless”

Origins of Museum CollectionsOrigins of Museum Collections

Diverse rootsDiverse roots::– Popular entertainments & exhibitory institutions : Popular entertainments & exhibitory institutions :

Curiosity cabinets, fairgrounds, circusesCuriosity cabinets, fairgrounds, circuses– Private connoisseurs (learned? Elite?Or not?)Private connoisseurs (learned? Elite?Or not?)

Role of museum in systematizing collectionsRole of museum in systematizing collections– Tensions: “rationalize” collections & use Tensions: “rationalize” collections & use

“scientific” means to present museum objects as “scientific” means to present museum objects as coherent expressions of learned culture while coherent expressions of learned culture while providing popular amusementsproviding popular amusements

Mandates & Types of MuseumsMandates & Types of Museums

Diverse: Diverse: ICOM international committees ICOM international committees (by (by type of museum or museum profession)type of museum or museum profession)

Tensions in Museum Mandates: Tensions in Museum Mandates: Preservation of Elites or Preservation of Elites or Democratization?Democratization? Some of challenges Some of challenges

New skills, communication “across’ disciplines?New skills, communication “across’ disciplines? Persistence of old organizational structures, values & practices in Persistence of old organizational structures, values & practices in

museum worldsmuseum worlds

Interplay of personal and professional, private and Interplay of personal and professional, private and public public

– ““hot” & “cold” moments, “thick” description (C. Geertz) hot” & “cold” moments, “thick” description (C. Geertz)

Roles of Museum Roles of Museum ProfessionalsProfessionals

Hierarchical Division of “labour” & authorityHierarchical Division of “labour” & authority– Director Director – Curator (usually a trained historian)Curator (usually a trained historian)– Conservator (restorer): touches the objectsConservator (restorer): touches the objects– Conservation scientist: often training in applied Conservation scientist: often training in applied

science (chemistry etc.)science (chemistry etc.)– TechnicianTechnician– Registrar (documentation)Registrar (documentation)

Codes of ethics: Why?Codes of ethics: Why?

““Professionalization” (recognition of museology as a Professionalization” (recognition of museology as a “scientific” and intellectual discipline)“scientific” and intellectual discipline)

Cultural Authority of Museums (peacetime & Cultural Authority of Museums (peacetime & wartime)wartime)

Regulation of disparate practices & protection of Regulation of disparate practices & protection of “things”“things”

Protection of Museums from Political InterferenceProtection of Museums from Political Interference International issues– notion of global ownership of International issues– notion of global ownership of

material culture & intercultural communicationmaterial culture & intercultural communication Example: Example: ICOM Code of EthicsICOM Code of Ethics

Some key principles in Cultural Some key principles in Cultural Heritage PreservationHeritage Preservation

respect for respect for – meaning of “object or artefact”meaning of “object or artefact”– Preservation of collections (in perpetuity)Preservation of collections (in perpetuity)– In art: respect for creator’s intentIn art: respect for creator’s intent– In historic & cultural museums: community In historic & cultural museums: community

stakeholders (newer)stakeholders (newer) Debates: ownership and authorityDebates: ownership and authority

– Multiple meaningsMultiple meanings

Variations in conservation Variations in conservation approaches according to approaches according to symbolic value, meaningsymbolic value, meaning

Pressurized suits (Deep sea and Outer space) National Museum of Air & Space, Smithsonian Institution

field field (arts, (arts, sciences)sciences)

status & status & meaning of the meaning of the objectobject

type of usetype of use treatment treatment

conventionsconventions

Part 3: Part 3: Challenges Challenges from New from New Technologies & Technologies & PracticesPractices

Ex. Ephemeral Ex. Ephemeral MaterialsMaterials

‘‘Flesh Dress…’ (Jana Flesh Dress…’ (Jana Sterbak)Sterbak)

New Ideas about what to New Ideas about what to collect collect

Exhibition of Storefront Display covered with toxic dust from September 11, 2001, New York City. Source NYTimes, Aug. 25, 2006

PerformancePerformanceexample: Julie Laffin, example: Julie Laffin, OverOver, , 19961996

Obsolete Technologies: Obsolete Technologies: (Nam June Paik.(Nam June Paik. TV Garden. 1974) TV Garden. 1974)

Nam June Paik, Nam June Paik, TV GardenTV Garden, , 2000 version2000 version

Nam June Pak: Replacement Nam June Pak: Replacement Parts Storage AreaParts Storage Area

Interactive works: example: Interactive works: example: ada’web, 1995-1998ada’web, 1995-1998

www.adaweb.walker.orgwww.adaweb.walker.org

Preservation and Presentation Preservation and Presentation challengeschallenges

Physical installation components, hardware, Physical installation components, hardware, custom software, feedback delay time, c custom software, feedback delay time, c perfomantive aspectsperfomantive aspects

Multiple genresMultiple genres– Site-specific (Internet)Site-specific (Internet)– performative (interaction of viewers etc.)performative (interaction of viewers etc.)

Conservation & professional Conservation & professional practices in the “museum field”practices in the “museum field” Archives & preservationArchives & preservation of of

– WorksWorks– of equipment, replacement supplies & of equipment, replacement supplies & tools of tools of

creation (ex. software & hardware)creation (ex. software & hardware) DocumentationDocumentation

– techniques for record keeping & nomenclature techniques for record keeping & nomenclature of works & processesof works & processes

– Information on technical standards (industry)Information on technical standards (industry)– Treatment experiences & standards for careTreatment experiences & standards for care

– Values & PracticesValues & Practices in “art in “art worlds” (creators, curators, worlds” (creators, curators, conservators, technicians, conservators, technicians, registrars, archivists, registrars, archivists, collectors, publics, etc…)collectors, publics, etc…)

– Arts institutionsArts institutions (mandates, (mandates, codes of ethics, codes of ethics, organizational structures, organizational structures, professional identities)professional identities)

– International networksInternational networks (disciplinary & trans-(disciplinary & trans-disciplinary collaboration, disciplinary collaboration, national traditionsnational traditions))

Name

T= Can touch art 24 h a day without supervision (Twenty-four hours)

D=may touch art during museum hours under supervision

Red aura =may touch artworks

Studying Changes? Example of Art Studying Changes? Example of Art MuseumsMuseums

Initiatives to Develop New Initiatives to Develop New Strategies for the Preservation of Strategies for the Preservation of Variable Media WorksVariable Media Works Many approaches from different perspectivesMany approaches from different perspectives

– Museum traditionsMuseum traditions– Industry (film, TV, music etc.)Industry (film, TV, music etc.)– Archival traditions (public & private libraries & Archival traditions (public & private libraries &

archives)archives)– Government (information management)Government (information management)

Next week: Begin with two initiatives: Next week: Begin with two initiatives: Variable Media Initiative and InterPARES Variable Media Initiative and InterPARES (See Handout (See Handout 2)2)

Second Half of Class: Review of Second Half of Class: Review of Course AdministrationCourse Administration Handout # 1Handout # 1: Syllabus, Grading, Schedule, : Syllabus, Grading, Schedule, Course WebsiteCourse Website

ERROR in 1ERROR in 1stst version: Quiz #2 is on Nov. 7 version: Quiz #2 is on Nov. 7thth!!!!!!!!

Readings & FieldworkReadings & Fieldwork Weeks 1,2,3 (Weeks 1,2,3 (HandoutHandout ##22))

If time: Discuss visit to If time: Discuss visit to Vancouver Art Galler (Haida Vancouver Art Galler (Haida cultural heritage & cultural heritage & contemporary society?)contemporary society?)– The museum visit as a form of communication The museum visit as a form of communication

(from the perspective of the visitor, the museum (from the perspective of the visitor, the museum professionals & the people depicted)professionals & the people depicted)

– The “content” of the exhibitionThe “content” of the exhibition– The museum as a frame or cultural context (other The museum as a frame or cultural context (other

shows, shop items etc.)shows, shop items etc.)

Example: Taste Example: Taste and style as and style as culture culture “markers” “markers” ex. Subcultures ex. Subcultures (“White Trash (“White Trash Girl”)Girl”)

““Main Main Stream”Stream”