Introduction - Looking Reality in the Eye

I wanted to introduce myself to fellow bloggers who will be reading Looking Reality in the Eye over the course of this semester and provide some background information as to why I chose to read this particular book. My name is Stephanie, and I am a first year graduate student in the museum studies program. My main interests are in museum education and collections.

I chose to read Looking Reality in the Eye in part because of its unique format. I enjoy the fact that each chapter is devoted to a particular case study which allows the reader to reflect and compare the ways in which some museums are organizing themselves around socially responsible missions. I also wanted to read this book to gain a better understanding of how museums can address issues in their communities and have a positive influence on the people they serve while still retaining an educational focus.

The introduction by Janes and Conaty invites museums to challenge the status quo instead of settling into a routine of what is considered normal or comfortable museum practice. I am interested to see how the museums in the case studies presented throughout the book fulfill this challenge. What barriers may exist that inhibit current museum professionals from reorganizing their museum into a socially responsible institution? How are these barriers overcome? I hope that the case studies presented throughout this book will offer different answers to these questions and highlight some of the educational programs that contribute to a socially responsible mission.

Re-presenting Disability: Discussion Question #1 Active practice

Here are links to images of the three statues discussed in this week's scheduled reading. After learning about the controversy over these statues, what is your opinion of them? Are they helpful? Hurtful? Honest? Disrespectful?

FDR


Allison Lapper Pregnant


Churchill

The Social Work of Museums by Lois Silverman- Reading Schedule

Our group members are Justin, Rhonda and Gessica.  Happy Reading!

The week of October 12:
Chapter 1 and Introductions (All)

The week of October 26:
Chapter 2 (Gessica)
Chapter 3 (Justin)
Chapter 4 (Rhonda)

The week of November 9:
Chapter 5 (Gessica)
Chapter 6 (Justin)
Chapter 7 (Rhonda)

The New Museum: selected writings by John Cotton Dana

Reading Schedule:

September 21

Preface and Introduction

October 5

The New Museum

October 12

Museums and Community

October 26

The Experiment of the Newark Museum

November 2

Museums and Education

November 9

Museums and Art

Janes & Conaty ~ Looking Reality In The Eye: Museums and Social Responsibility-Reading Schedule

I'm Dolly, and I'll be working alongside Mandy, Jessica, Krystal, Stephanie, and Meira to get some conversations started about Looking Reality In The Eye. Our team's prospective reading schedule is as follows:

9/14

Introduction (Janes and Conaty)

9/21

History is as History Does: The Evolution of a Mission-driven Museum (Abram)

9/28

Our Story in Our Words: Diversity and Equality in the Glenbow Museum (Conaty and Carter)

10/5

One National Museum's Work to Develop a New Model of National Service: A Work in Progress (DiCosimo)

10/12

Engaging Young Minds and Spirits: The Glenbow Museum School (Gallant and Kidd)

10/19

Liberty Science Center in the United States: A Mission Focused on External Relevance (Koster and Baumann)

10/26

Is Art Good for You? (Pointe)

11/2

Negotiating a Sustainable Path: Museums and Societal Therapy (Sutter and Worts)

11/9

Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Human Remains at the Auckland Museum - Te Papa Whakahiku (Tapsell)

11/16

Telling It Like It Is: The Calgary Police Service Interpretive Centre (Pieschel)

N.B.--We have organized chapter assignments so that bloggers are slated to write on topics related to their own interests. However, since all members of our team must meet class-wide posting deadlines of 10/12, 10/26, and 11/9, some chapters may be discussed here ahead of our reading schedule. We invite conversation at all stages of the process!

Sandell and Garland-Thompson ~ Re-Presenting Disability: Activism and Agency in the Museum Reading Schedule

Sandell and Garland-Thompson ~ Re-Presenting Disability: Activism and Agency in the Museum
Reading Schedule

Week of Sept 12:
1. Active practice

Week of Sept 19:
2. Picturing people with disabilities: classical portraiture as reconstructive narrative
3. Agents at Angkor

Week of Sept 26:
4. 'See no evil'
5. Ghosts in the war museum

Week of Oct 3:
6. Behind the shadow of Merrick
7. Disability reframed: challenging visitor perceptions in the museum

Week of Oct 10:
8. To label the label? 'Learning disability' and exhibiting 'critical proximity'
9. Hurting and healing: reflections on representing experiences of mental illness in museums
10. Histories of disability and medicine: reconciling historical narratives and contemporary values

Week of Oct 17:
11. Revealing moments: representations of disability and sexuality
12. The red wheelchair in the white snowdrift
13. Face to face: representing disfigurement in a museum context

Week of Oct 24:
14. 'Out from Under': a brief history of everything
15. Transforming practice: disability perspectives and the museum
16. Reciprocity, accountability, empowerment: emancipatory principles and practices in the museum

Week of Oct 31:
17. Disability, human rights, and the public gaze: The Losheng Story Museum
18. A museum for all? The Norwegian Museum of Deaf History and Culture
19. Collective bodies: what museums do for disabilities studies

Let the Read Along Begin!

The reading schedules are now being posted. You can check the book page for information on the schedule.  Please feel free to introduce yourself and what drew you to the particular book you are reading with us.  Over the next few weeks each group will be posting responses and reflections to the readings.  Feel free to comment and join in the discussion!

All of the blog posts will be available here on the main page. To make it easier for you to follow your particular book, you'll find the blog postings labeled and listed at the top of the page.

Students are looking forward to a dynamic conversation with you, so please join in!