Spoiler Alert: Chapter 7, Toward the Next Age

I enjoyed the work and am convinced there is a solid future between these two fields. However, final chapter left me wanting and again (I know you are shocked) a bit aggravated. In “Towards the next age” Silverman wrapped up her analysis of how museum can and have provided opportunities for social work. In doing so she called for a truly collaborative effort between museums and social workers. She also detailed the need to establish joint priorities, goals, ethics and values.

Silverman presented her plea in almost apocalyptic terms. At the beginning Silverman stated:

“We are quite capable of destroying each other and the planet. To survive and thrive in the next age, we must evolve new strategies for beneficial coexistence, using every suitable means to do so. In this light, the social work of museums no longer seems optional, or a clever way to keep collections-based institutions relevant, but an essential responsibility to humankind. The world’s museums have always been committed to caring for culture. To insure the next age, museums must help foster cultures of caring.” (p. 139)

While I personally found her introductory tone melodramatic Silverman did neatly detail the mission of her text and set the foundation for future work between the two fields. Unfortunately Silverman waited until the very end to direct the reader’s attention to the overall format of her work. Understanding this hierarchy would have made reading each chapter a bit more fulfilling as readers would undoubtedly see the larger connections between each relationship group and their individual but similar needs.

In the section titled Common Human Ground Silverman detailed her own hierarchy of needs, which she related to Maslow’s famous Hierarchy. She explained “Across selves, pairs, families and groups alike, four needs emerged as major themes to organize definite clusters of museum activity” (p. 141). Her hierarchy is displayed in a matrix as seen below.

Relationship
Needs		Self	Pair	Family	Group
	Transformation	Transcendence	Separation	Flexibility	Linkage
	Evolution	Identity	Interdependence	Continuity	Empowerment
	Development	Competence	Intimacy	Cohesion	Cohesiveness
	Foundation	Health	Companionship	Home	Purpose

*Silverman (2009) p. 141.

Interestingly each chapter focused on relationships (3-6) is divided into the four categories of needs. I do not disagree with such a hierarchy; my argument pertains to the placement and explanation within the final chapter. This could have easily been placed in the second chapter along with the introduction of Relationship Needs.

On the broader subject of her appeal for and interconnection between social work and museums Silverman is more detailed and developed a strong foundation for future practice. She focused on the need for collaboration, shared ethics and values, a growing body of knowledge and of course innovation. These sections read as a road map for future practice offering up pertinent questions, but rarely addressing possible road blocks.

From here Silverman transitioned into a futuristic scene reflective of her introductory chapter complete with recurrent actors. In a perfect world where museums and social work are fully integrated the grey haired lady and her slender male have their special needs addressed through a technologically integrated exhibit. In a similar vein the recently released convict and his son not only learn together but act as models for others in similar situations. The optimism in her conclusion seemed almost contradictory to the introductory paragraph. However, this optimistic version of the future can provide the inspiration necessary for the success of this joint collaboration.

Questions for thought?

Does anyone else feel her tone throughout the chapter seemed a bit scattered and melodramatic, or was this simply a literary tool utilized to gain readers emotional attention and to stir activism?

I am curious as to whether or not other readers found the placement of the Relationship/Needs hierarchy strange or if I am again focused too closely on the minutiae of her work? Would placing this explanation earlier have distracted readers from her main thesis?

Which of the following objectives do you think is most important to developing a true relationship between social work and museums; collaboration, shared ethics and values, a growing body of knowledge and/or innovation? Which would Silverman place as most essential, least? Must they all be met at the same time in order for success to occur or will the evolution happen in jumps and starts? Are there other areas she left out in her analysis? If so what are they?

Do you agree Silverman meet her goal of connecting museums and social work and establishing a framework for future collaboration? Are there any areas she may have overlooked in creating the book? Overall what was her most engaging argument for the future collaboration between the two fields? Did she adequately address the difficulties inherent in melding two distinct fields?