Abstract
The chapter offers an overview of dynamic processes changing the role and place of museums and art galleries in our societies. After many decades of being static displays of things, they are now changing into places of interaction and communication on a variety of levels. The text is presenting some current patterns of developing a sense of collective belonging and also it is looking at the communication processes between institutions and visitors with a focus on the role of digital technologies and social media in the process of preserving, narrating, and sharing the object of art and beauty. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a framework for further research on digital practice linked with contemporary social identities and art institutions that are a significant social institution with public value and the ability to link the local cultural heritage global context.
TopFrom ‘Cabinets Of Curiosities’ To Permanent Social Institutions
The authors apply the term ‘contemporary museum’ to institutions that began to appear about 250 years ago and perform an educational and experiential function. Their predecessors, the so-called “cabinets of curiosities” served as rooms for collections gathered by monarchs since the sixteenth century, as well as for those belonging to private individuals, for instance, cleric Manfred Settala in Milan, around 1700. The greatest collector's popularity was drawn by medals (Burke, 2009, p. 124). Short-term exhibitions including the Salon in Paris and art presentations can also be mentioned.. The world exhibitions in London, Amsterdam, and Chicago appealed to a wide range of people in an unbeatable way and had a significant influence at the time. On the contrary, permanent expositions leave a long-term impact (Burke, 2013, pp. 115-117).
Key Terms in this Chapter
Consumer Culture: Is a form of material culture facilitated by the market. Social science is interested in research of sets of relationships between the consumer and the material object or services purchased.
Prosumption: Is a process that involves both production and consumption without focusing on either one. In case of selfies the producer is often the direct consumer-viewer of the photograph.
Selfie: A photograph taken by oneself, the most often it is taken with a smartphone or and shared via social media.
Social media: Social media are digital tools that allow people to create, share, and exchange information and visual content with each other within a virtual community or network.
Stereotyping: An overly simplified generalization while interpreting objects or people, regardless of individual differences.
Identity: By identity we mean experiencing who an individual feels to be. It is a process of internalizing sets of characteristics and values at the same time also realizing differences from other people and groups.
Digital Media: Is content encoded in machine-readable format, created, edited, and distributed on electronic devices, broadcasted through a screen.
Art Institutions: Public or private places where art viewing is taking place.