University museums: distinct sites of intersection for diverse communities

Abstract

In her article 'The Politics of exhibiting culture: Legacies and possibilities' Shelley Ruth Butler refers to "a problematic dichotomy that exists in museum literature between critical and optimistic perspectives on exhibiting culture" (BUTLER 2000: 74). Critical museology, she says, raises questions about the relationship between existing museum practice and the history of a "politics of domination" that has underpinned how western museums exhibit non-western cultures, the "other." This has resulted in the re-evaluation of motivations that have driven the collecting, classifying, and displaying of material culture. Optimistic museology, on the other hand, focuses "on the role of museums in public education and in facilitating conversation between diverse and multi-cultural citizens" (BUTLER 2000: 74). The intent of this paper is to discuss how a university museum proved to be the appropriate site of intersection for these two perspectives. I will focus specifically on our work with diverse communities on the development of an exhibition and programming about Islam and Muslim life.

No artigo 'The Politics of exhibiting culture: Legacies and possibilities', Shelley Ruth Butler refere-se à "dicotomia problematica, frequente na literatura, entre urna perspectiva critica e urna perspectiva optimista da exposiçâo de cultura [material]". A museologia crìtica, argumenta Butler, levanta questôes sobre a história de urna "politica de domìnio" que prevaleceu na pratica dos museus ocidentais e respectivas exposiçôes sobre culturas nâo ocidentais, encaradas comò "o outro". A museologia optimista, por outro lado, da ênfase "ao papel educativo dos museus e à promoçâo do dialogo plural e multi-cultural entre cidadâos" (BUTLER 2000: 74). Este artigo discute comò um museu universitario pode constituir um espaço apropriado para a intersecçâo destas duas perspectivas. Centrar-me-ei essencialmente no traballio com comunidades multi-culturais no desenvolvimento de urna exposiçâo e de programas educativos sobre o Islâo e a vida muçulmana.