Introduction
Museums play critical social roles as it has been part of the fabric of history for a long time. The museums are institutions dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of primary tangible evidence of the environment and humankind where archeological history and objects of scientific interest are kept. Archeology has been a notable museum principle and discipline in the last three hundred years, with some of the first public museums, like Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum, entailing antiquities of collections. However, contemporary society has developed about 25000 museums globally with a significant number of archeological activities and collections that vary across themselves. For instance, they preserve primary evidence that differs from libraries as the items housed in museums constitute unique research and study raw materials. The study aims to highlight the notable functions and roles of museums, including their role in collecting scattered finds, their roles as a predator, cultural heritage saviors, and research centers.
Description of the Situation
Museums’ Historical Role in Artifact Collection
Museums have played a pivotal historical role in collecting and preserving artifacts, embarking on expeditions across diverse territories. Archeological collections and natural history in museums are created from field expeditions mounted by scholars and researchers to collect the scattered finds that preserve the territory’s cultures. Archeologists are engaged in the search for specimens and objects to augment, initiate, and complement the artifact and object collection where the museums mount forays and incursions to forage in territories to offer for the scattered finds searched (Soares &Maranda,2017). The territories engage in gamut to excavate sites and collect specimens from previous inhabitants by trespassing on private properties and lands in search of objects( Jardine et al.,2019 ). For instance, the museum’s scattered finds resulted in the collection of the stone coffin of Aset that’s displayed in Museo Egizio, Tirino, where it is classified as the Drovetti collection. Hence, the museum plays a critical role in collecting artifacts and scattered finds that are intrinsic to the archeologist and museum mission that, involves the acquisition of unique items, ranging from natural specimens to archaeological finds. Initiating, expanding, or enhancing collections frequently requires forays into the well-known territory, demonstrating the museum’s proactive interaction with historical data (441isabel, 2021). These expeditions are led by researchers, scientists, and intellectuals who work for or are linked with museums, emphasizing the dynamic nature of artifact acquisition.
Predatory Nature of Museums in Collection Development
Museums, albeit serving as repositories of cultural heritage, bear a predatory aspect in collections and interpretation practices. The acquisitions of artifacts through direct involvement and tacit support highlight the complexity of their historical roles. Field expeditions, witnessed across natural history and archaeological collections, showcase the aggressive quest for valuable objects (441isabel, 2021). For instance, the British Museum’s historical involvement in the discovery of Benin art exemplifies this predatory nature, as artifacts and valuable items like ivories, brass, and woodwork were seized during the British invasion of Benin City in 1897 (Rossi,2023). Similarly, the Field Museum Chicago’s portrayal of geopolitical tensions resulting in the relocation of Benin’s treasures highlights museums’ entanglement in historical events that further emphasize their multifaceted roles in contemporary society (Rossi,2023). For more than a century, cultural items have been gathered by museums, who then took them out of their original contexts and redefined their meanings, establishing the museum as the final arbiter of interpretation. Although most people have a positive perception of museums and associate them with learning and discovery, only a few people are aware of the processes that led to these institutions earning their prestigious image (Mujtaba et al.,2018, p.42). Advocates claim that museums may heal divisions by providing historical insights and promoting understanding in the face of rising international tensions. However, as explained by Rossi (2023), criticisms highlight the divisive topic of ownership and the moral implications of universal museums, as demonstrated by Geoffrey Robertson’s position on the Parthenon Marbles, evidence drawn from the German archeological mission’s finding of the Nefertiti bust at Amarna that exposed the limits of partage.
Museums as research centers
Museums have a primary purpose of conserving artifacts, specimens, and related information that serve as the foundation for natural science in research centers. The museums and other cultural organizations have a future of educating the coming generation on cultural heritage and artifacts history as they collect and organize the collected items for reference and conservation of culture (Tsinopoulou, 2017). Institutions throughout the world are contributing to the dissemination of information, from developing kid-focused exhibitions to instructing kids in a setting akin to a classroom. Typically, these museums have a formal policy on collections that outlines the extent of the collection, the acquisition process for specimens, and the methods for making them available for research. These universities often have few collections, and the ones they do have are usually utilized more for teaching than for research, where there are rarely working research scientists within their workforce of educators. The main viewers for the displays are people who are interested in cultural objects, families with school-age children, or schools themselves, particularly middle and elementary schools. Regardless of their main focus, almost all museums devote a significant amount of time and energy to public education because they assist the public in finding common ground again and in learning to create bridges rather than fostering division (Escribano-Miralles et al.,2021). Many people also think that museums can help us gain perspective by using educational activities or by simply pointing out past mistakes as examples of where our current behavior will lead.
My Evaluation and Opinion
The historical role of museums as static repositories was undoubtedly crucial in preserving cultural heritage. It has become excellent that museums have evolved from being static archives to active places that prioritize community involvement and teaching. According to FIWebteam (2023), In the event of becoming active research centers and zones for educational purposes, it takes into account the changing requirements and demands of the general audience, and it shows up as interactive displays and events covering current events (FIWebteam, 2023). However, how much the set museums contribute towards protecting cultural heritage, it becomes very significant to consider the moral ramifications of their previous acquisition policies, which were frequently analogous to bulimic institutions hoarding items (Jenkins, 2023). As a result, an aspect surrounding partage is exemplified by the Bust of Nefertiti, which highlights the difficulties in maintaining cultural integrity and the need to investigate the historical roles performed by various museums.
The idea behind giving insights on museums as places where research is conducted is a significant change from viewing them as passive archives to seeing them as active contributors to the discovery of lost histories. For instance, the revolutions go hand in hand with the concept that museums actively work to improve our understanding of shared histories and individual identities in addition to caring for artifacts. For instance, Rossi (2023) demonstrates that the scenario of Bust of Nefertiti indicates the difficulties and complexities that surround museum acquisitions, which brings the urgent need for severe investigations and implications brought by the ethical concerns (Rossi,2023). Similarly, the scattered nature of artifacts, such as the Gate of Ishtar, dismantled and reconstructed in different museums, highlights the challenges in preserving cultural integrity.
In addition, another essential tool in my study that serves as a symbol of a paradigm shift in the functions of museums is the founding of the Museum of World Culture and its integration with discussions surrounding Swedish national identity. The museum’s reaction to the surge in immigration is indicative of a progressive emphasis on contemporary issues and a view of history as dynamic exchanges and movements that challenge conventional wisdom associated with particular cultures and situations (Harding, 2020). An investigation done by Harding (2020) describes Historian Aronsson’s formulation of a “cultural constitution” of national museums. It highlights the critical role these institutions play in forming a shared sense of self. The war arising from the tends to give less weight to its performance in the event of cultural politics, and through my assessment, acknowledges its significance as a dynamic cultural institution that backs up the discussion and reveals the changes being encountered in our modern societal setup (Harding, 2020). Museums, in their dynamic roles, continue to shape our understanding of history, foster community engagement and contribute to the ongoing narrative of human culture.
Conclusion
With a conclusion regarding the role of museums and their impact on contemporary society, the transition from static repositories to dynamic hubs is a beneficial step that puts museums in a position to adapt to changing societal demands. The museums that have been recently set up perform functions such as educational hubs, social issue advocates, and research centers, acknowledging the difficulties of decontextualization and exploitative tactics in the past and looking forward to a more educated and inclusive future. Museums have attained more extraordinary achievement through actively changing historical learning, encouraging community interaction, and adding to the ongoing story of human culture by embracing dynamic roles. This revolutionary path demonstrates a dedication to social progress and relevance, guaranteeing museums’ continued significance as essential contributors to our collective knowledge and cultural dialogue.
Reference List
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