museumsss

Photography in museums plays several different roles. It starts with curators viewing pictures of objects to include in the museum, or collecting the pictures themselves to be put on display. These photos can be of what exists and goes on exhibit or of what existed in the past. These objects or buildings that existed in the past can be the center of an exhibit making the photos the most important part or could be a side note. They are important for visitors because they can sometimes photograph the once in a lifetime exhibits. At the same time though these photos can be banned making the photograph play a much lesser role to the viewer. With this though, it isn't necessarily the museums banning photography. museums have less control of what artwork can be photographed because of copyright laws. I found that information in this article: http://musematic.net/?p=325. All of this supports the argument that photography is an important aspect for museums; whether it is for the use of the curator or the viewer, it plays a role.

When it comes to benefits of a museum the UK Museums Association best defines it saying "Museums enable people to explore collections for inspiration, learning and enjoyment. They are institutions that collect, safeguard and make accessible artifacts and specimens, which they hold in trust for society." (http://www.museumsassociation.org/12913) Museums are universally beneficial to every culture in the way that they keep the most prized possessions safe. But at the same time, they put these prized possession on display for anyone to see and sometimes take those keepsakes out of the culture and in a different place. That's how in the United States we can see the possessions of Egyptian Kings that were most relevant to their tombs. But the debate is whether or not we should keep those objects in their tombs.

I think all of these things can support a dialectic about photography in museums, the historical relevance and the cultural enrichment of communities (among other things).