making things public, latour

Philosopher in the museum

Zofia Płoska8th December 2011

Topic

• Theoretical framework: new museology and the concept of critical museum

• Case: Exhibition Making Things Public. Atmospheres of Democracy, ZKM Karlsruhe, 2005 curators: Bruno Latour & Peter Weibel

Research Questions

• Was Latour’s exhibition a materialization of critical museum concept?

• Can Actor-network theory propose solutions to the problems faced by critical museology?

New Museology

• roots in late 1960’s artistic institutional critiques

• close relation with New Art History movement• name - “The New Museology”, Peter Vergo,

1989

Main ideas

• denaturalisation of an institution (museums as ideological constructions)

• problematisation of artistic value

• analysis of a social, political and cultural context of museum practice

Concept of critical museum

• aim - to show problems and ask questions;to expose complexities and contradictions of objects

• empowerment of a visitor (active participation)

• transparency of decision making process (self-reflective position)

• embedded in and owned by community

• representation of different groups

Philosophical issues

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5s264AjaXI

• From “objects” to “things”

• Problem of representation (political, scientific, artistic)

• Question of democratic assemblies

Exhibition Space

Phantom Public, Michel Jaffrenou, Thierry Coduys, 2005

Is it a critical show?