Museums and Utopian thought - Essay Example

Museum and Utopian Thought While to the general public museums are simply s that house valuable art from a variety of cultures and historical periods. Still, upon further examination it’s clear that the nature of the museum itself carries with it a number of symbolic elements that create and imbue meaning on these objects housed within. Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblet, Barbara considers the nature of the museum as a structural force, as well as the nature of the power the art housed within the museum holds.

With reference to two texts by Kirshenblatt-Gimblet, this essay examines the notion of the museum as a repository of utopian thought, and the source of meaning or ‘power’ of the art within the museum. When considering art objects it’s clear that they have a distinct source of power over people. Kirshenblatt-Gimblet (2000) articulates a notion of art objects as taking on powerful symbolic elements when viewed as message of representatives of social relations among people. In terms of art objects, one of the primary power sources is clearly the nature of their inclusion within the museum.

The inclusion of the art into the museum or gallery format imbues the object with an institutional or social sense of recognition. Notably, Kirshenblatt-Gimblet (2000, p. 7) states, “the museum tends to be conserving and conservative institution, subject to the catalyzing effects of avant- garde artists that engage and attempt to destabilize its very premises on the premises…to appeal to a wider public.” This is a contrasting understanding of the meaning or ‘power’ of the art object, as gaining its significance from its resistance of cooptation of the museum or gallery, with the museum acting as a catalyst to this resistance.

Still, it is ultimately the institution of the museum that motivates or ‘catalyzes’ this meaning, ultimately giving the object its power. Kirshenblatt-Gimblett (2004) proposes a vision of the museum as a history of utopian thought. In many regards, it’s clear that the museum does act as a sort exemplification of utopian ideals. This notion follows two modes of thought, as both the structural nature of the museum itself is recognized as encouraging this utopian identification, as well as the idealistic intentions of the artwork within the museum.

In terms of physical elements of the museum consider Kirshenblatt-Gimblett (2004, p. 1) who states, The museum is at once an architectural form, a concrete environment for reflection, a reservoir of tangibilities, a school for the senses, a space of conviviality, an autopoetic system, and a projection of the ideal society, notwithstanding the amply documented tensions between the utopian ideal of the museum and its instrumentalizations.In these regards, it’s clear that the nature of the museum itself encourages this utopian identification.

One can even consider the seminal Marshall Mcluhan quote that the medium is the message, in that the structural and architectural nature of the museum structure encourages utopian identification. One of the texts predominant arguments is that just like literary utopias, the museum is set-aside from traditional aspects of society. While the text emphasizes the museum itself, another notable consideration is the nature of the art housed within this structure. In large part, aesthetics points to a history of art concerned with perfect notions of beauty, or idealized messages.

In housing these art forms, the museum can also be seen as a repository of these utopian visions. In conclusion, this essay has examined the museum as catalyst and repository of utopian visions. In these regards, art objects are understood as gaining their power or meaning from inclusion within the museum, or as a direct reaction to this institution. The museum itself is also understood as structurally creating a utopian atmosphere. Ultimately, it’s clear that the museum is an important factor in the establishment of meaning in art.

ReferencesKirshenblatt-Gimblet, Barbara. (2000). The museum as catalyst www.nyu.edu/classes/bkg/web/vadstena.pdfKirshenblatt-Gimblett, Barbara. (2004). The Museum--A Refuge for Utopian Thought www.nyu.edu/classes/bkg/web/museutopia.pdf