From Knowledge to Narrative

Download or read book From Knowledge to Narrative written by Lisa C. Roberts and published by Smithsonian Institution. This book was released on 1997-06-17 with total page 217 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From Knowledge to Narrative shows that museum educators—professionals responsible for making collections intelligble to viewers—have become central figures in shaping exhibits. Challenging the traditional, scholarly presentation of objects, educators argue that, rather than transmitting knowledge, museums' displays should construct narratives that are determined as much by what is meaningful to visitors as by what curators intend. Lisa C. Roberts discusses museum education in relation to entertainment, as a tool of empowerment, as a shaper of experience, and as an ethical responsibility. The book argues for an expanded role for museum education based less on explaining objects than on interpreting narratives.