Museums and the Act of Witnessing

Museums and the Act of Witnessing examines how representations of traumatic histories and the legacies of the twentieth century in museums and heritage sites across the world shape political, social and cultural identities.

Drawing on an interdisciplinary analysis of a variety of museum exhibitions around the globe, the book demonstrates how the narrative of 'witnessing' has shaped representation of war, genocide, repression and violence. Revealing that this form of presentation is inherently Western in its origins and nature, Wilson goes on to argue that witnessing the past is to colonise the future, as we project a certain view of the events of the past onto the present. Detailing the character, content and meanings of representation that focus on the traumatic events of the twentieth century, the book demonstrates the way in which visitors are cast as 'witnesses' and questions what the true purpose of witnessing really is.

Museums and the Act of Witnessing draws attention to the fact that we have inherited a distinct, and often limited, mode of seeing the past and considers how we can more effectively engage with the past in the present. The book will be of interest to academics and students engaged in the study of museums, history, sociology, conflict, politics and memory.

List of contents

1. Introduction; 2. Eyewitness: being present and seeing things for ourselves; 3. Expert Witnesses: understanding the past; 4. Character Witnesses and Testimonies; 5. Lay Witnesses and the Radical Witness; 6. Conclusion

About the author

Ross J. Wilson is Director of Liberal Arts at the University of Nottingham in the UK.

Summary

Museums and the Act of Witnessing examines how representations of traumatic histories and the legacies of the twentieth century in museums and heritage sites across the world shape political, social and cultural identities.

Product details

• Authors: Ross J. Wilson
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.10.2021
• EAN: 9780367569549
• ISBN: 978-0-367-56954-9
• No. of pages: 186
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Art > Miscellaneous; memory, Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900, HISTORY / General, HISTORY / Military / General, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Colonialism & Post-Colonialism, military history, 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000, ART / Museum Studies, 20th century, c 1900 to c 1999, Colonialism & imperialism, Colonialism and imperialism, Cognition and cognitive psychology, Modern warfare, National liberation & independence, post-colonialism, Museology & heritage studies, Museology and heritage studies, National liberation and independence, HISTORY / Modern / 20th Century / General