A Sheffield Hallam University Thesis
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
The cultural construction of history in museums and heritage attractions. SPEAKMAN, Lydia M. Available from the Sheffield Hallam University Research Archive (SHURA) at: http://shura.shu.ac.uk/20390/ A Sheffield Hallam University thesis This thesis is protected by copyright which belongs to the author. The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the author. When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given. Please visit http://shura.shu.ac.uk/20390/ and http://shura.shu.ac.uk/information.html for further details about copyright and re-use permissions. SHEF?"'- UMiVEB Fines are charged at 50p per hour 1 4 FEB 2002 2 3 AUG 2005 5- ccb-i ProQuest Number: 10701036 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a com plete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. uest ProQuest 10701036 Published by ProQuest LLC(2017). Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States C ode Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 THE CULTURAL CONSTRUCTION OF HISTORY IN MUSEUMS AND HERITAGE ATTRACTIONS LYDIA MARIANA SPEAKKAN A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the Council for National Academic Awards for the degree of Master of Philosophy. OCTOBER 1992 SHEFFIELD CITY POLYTECHNIC . / iro &ioo\£ &P ABSTRACT This study examines the role of the curator in the interpretation of history in museums and heritage attractions. The research uses data from twelve case studies collected from observation and interviews to examine the decision-making processes undertaken by curators in devising exhibitions and displays. The study examines the different interpretative opportunities available to the curator in determining their construction of history, in the selection of artefacts and the choice of historical interpretative approaches and interpretative techniques. The study demonstrates that the curator has to mediate his or her interpretative choices with a number of constraints. These constraints include the availability of artefacts, finance, the market, institutional structure and the ethics of the museum profession. In examining this decision-making process, the study argues that the construction of history in museums and heritage attractions represents a microcosm of the wider processes involved in the cultural construction of history. The study examines the role of history in society in upholding current beliefs and practices. Huseums, as cultural institutions concerned with the past, are on the forefront of presenting society with its selective tradition, and as such are symbols of present values and attitudes. Curators, by virtue of their institutional role, are part of this wider cultural dynamic. Therefore their constructions of history in exhibitions, remain firmly within the current socio political boundary, even though those constructions may also act to test and extend that same boundary. acknowledgements This study was undertaken during mv time as Research Assistant for the Centre for Tourism at Sheffield City Polytechnic. The Centre for Tourism not only generously funded this post, but provided additional resources and supervisory support for this research. I would particularly like to thank my supervisors, Dr. Ralph Hebden, John Swarbroke and Dr. Bill Eramwell who at different periods during this study gave me help and s u p po rt. I would also like to thank Chas Critcher and Dr. John Baxendale, who in the early days of this study suggested ways in which I could develop my research interest. Sheila Vigmore provided invaluable help in the form of books and critical advice on cultural construction. This study would, however, have been impossible without the curators and interpreters from my twelve chosen case studies. Not only did they spend considerable time providing me with background documentation, but tolerated my lengthy interviews with good humour amnd forebearance. I would like to put on record my grateful thanks to: Ray Barker- Benningborough Hall Matthew Burnby- Virksworth Heritage Centre Brian Collins- Automobilia Richard Doughty- National Fishing Heritage Cnetre Catherine Hall- Oakwell Hall Richard Hall- fork Archaeology Trust David Holdsworth- Roche Abbey Peter Lewis - Beamish Christine McDonnell- York Archaeology Trust Nicola Moyle- Kelham George Muirhead- Beamish Janet Peteman - Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet Richard Polley- English Heritage John Rumsby- Tolson Memorial Museum Peter Smithurst - Kelham Myna Trustram- National Museum of Labour History Andrew Tulloch- National Fishing Heritage Centre Martin Watts- Ryedale Folk Museum Jane Whittaker- Qakwell Hall Roger Whitworth- National Trust Thanks too, must go to my parents, Colin and Fleur Speakman, who helped me maintain my enthusiasm by their continual interest in my research. My special thanks go to Richard Baker, who was prepared to sit up night after night, listening to my latest theory on the power of the curator and who critically read every chapter, making the process of analysis and writing so much more enjoyable. Lydia Speakman October 1992 CONTENTS GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS P* CHAPTER ONE- INTRODUCTION p.5-16 Introduction The research problem Methodology The Analysis Conclusion CHAPTER TWO- PUTTING THE PAST OH DISPLAY P-17-42 Introduction The collections The use of reconstruction Interpretative panels The use of sound The audio-visual Live interpretation The interactive exhibit The use of modern technology The use of publications The 'friendly' museum Making history familiar Whose history ? Messages Conclusion CHAPER THREE- THE PAST AND ITS INTERPRETATION p.43-73 Introduction What is history? Using the evidence Turning the evidence into history Narrative history Annales School Marxist interpretations People's history Feminist history New historicisra Conclusion CHAPTER FOUR- THE CULTURAL CONSTRUCTION OF HERITAGE p.74-100 Introduction What is heritage? The national heritage The social construction of reality The cultural construction of national heritage The authority of the institution The role of the curator - 1 - CHAPTER FIVE - THE COLLECTION AND ITS INTERPRETATION p.101-117 Introduction The power of the object The creation of the artefact The availability of the past Selecting the past Exhibiting the past Conservers or educators ? Conclusion CHAPER SIX - HARING HISTORY p. 118-142 Introduction The importance of historical research The heritage debate The search for authenticity The objective museum Determining the historical approach Whose history ? History from the bottom up The representation of women The socio-political boundary The values of the curator CHAPTER SEVEN - INTERPRETING THE MESSAGE p. 143-167 Introduction Letting the past speak for itself Continuing the message Education or entertainment ? From written history to exhibitions The Cognitive map The use of popular genres Presentation The hands-on museum Reconstructi on Sound and the use of live interpreters Conclusion CHAPTER EIGHT - MANAGING THE INSTITUTION p. 168-196 Introduction The Audience Understanding visitor needs Education Market The Local Community The Leisure and Tourism Industries Marketing Finance The Shop and the Cafe Sponsorship Institutional Structure - 2 - Exhibition Planning The Xnstitution and the Professional Conclusion CHAPTER NINE- CONCLUSION p.197-201 Constructing the Model The Model APPENDIX I - LIST OF CASE STUDIES A 1-3 APPENDIX II- CHARACTERISTICS OF SAMPLE A 4 APPENDIX III- PERSONNEL INTERVIEWED A 5-6 APPENDIX IV- STANDARD INTERVIEW QUESTIONS A 7-8 APPENDIX V - THE CULTURAL CONSTRUCTION OF HISTORY A 9 IN MUSEUM AND HERITAGE ATTRACTIONS MODEL PRIMARY SOURCE BIBLIOGRAPHY SECONDARY SOURCE BIBLIOGRAPHY - 3 - GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS The following abbreviations will be used throughout this study: ARC Archaeological Resource Centre D.E.S Department of Education and Science Kelham Kelham Island, Sheffield Industrial Museum M.A Museums Association M.G.C Museums and Galleries Commission N.M.L.H National Museum of Labour History N.F.H.C National Fishing Heritage Centre Y.A.T York Archaeological Trust Tolson Tolson Memorial Museum - 4 - CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION "'who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past" ^.George Orwell 1966: p. 199 k INTRODUCTION Along with television, radio, drama and printed publications, museums and heritage attractions are one of the media by which society confronts the past. Unlike other communicative media, museums and heritage attractions give the public the opportunity to actually witness the physical traces of the past, in the forms of buildings, objects, photographs and even film and sound. In placing history on display, museums and heritage attractions act as society’s collective memory, shaping an understanding of the lives ox past generations and providing a definition of the present. Lumley 1.1968) has characterised iate twentieth century museums as; " a potent social metaphor and as a means whereby societies represent their relationsnips to their own history and to that of other culture's. Museums, in this sense