Ensayo

Esguerra 1
Catalina Esguerra
December 14 2012
Final Paper
Sinopoli
Museuology, Museum Processes and Meaning-Making:
The Encounter of Theory and Practice
Thingsdon't mean: we1 construct meaning, using representation systems --concepts
and signs.” –Stuart Hall
Museums are spaces where objects are displayed, histories are exhibitedand
cultures, both past and present, confront the visitor. Museums make decisions, both
small-scale and in larger scope, on which objects will be shown and whom/whose storywill be told. Most importantly, the museum has both the responsibility and privilege on
how these narratives are exposed and how these spaces are designed. Throughoutthis
course, we as a class participated in museum sites visits to augment our classroom
experience. This paper will discuss some of the experience at three museums –theHenry Ford, the Museum on Main Street, and the Rentschler Farm Museum –and how
those museums grapple with, succeed at, and fail to address the issues that were brought
upin the readings. Does the museum theory we examine affect practice? Through this
paper, I will answer this question by highlighting how each of these museums manages
toboth confront the challenges and changes both in museological theory and the wider
museum world.
The Henry Ford Museum visit was the first museum visit of the semester.From
beginning to end, the museums’ impact on the visit was calculated and measured. The
staff methodically took us through each of piece of the operation and how each clogin
the wheel contributed to the Henry Ford theme of “innovation.” The day began with
background on the inception of the museum and basic information on its collections.