Notes from Representing the Reality, Museum + Heritage summer series
intelligence can't be classed by objects - i.e hume with a spear would not survive in a landscape etc. - instead it should be assessed by wider context.
thoughsts - by removing the obejcts from thier home to a new context you ahev severed the connection from the object and its people
it can reinfornce predejuice/racism
looking like a castle is superoir to a hut etc.
the superoirity and inferioirty complex is ingrained in our curation, in our displays, in our langauge etc.
museums should be places that attract people to learn more about the collective human, if humans are going to survive, they must become part of this change. we cant change the past but we can change the consqeuences - museums can be a part of that meaningful change. - Geoff Palmer
time to start using the term slave - there are many types and many kinds of slavery. The broad use of the term means that they use it to negate or swaush other types of slavery. Really chattle slavery vs servitude, minors vs
slave is a loaded laden term and it needs to broken down, to not be a signifier for anger and resentment but that pull on the actual emotional real response - removing its political loading.
a diverse society requires diverse management. - geoff palmer
'The majority of the collection that I manage is not contentious in terms of how it was acquired, however I am looking at how we can better represent the paintings of military conquests and those considered heroes. Does anyone have any advice as to how this can be done sensitively but sensibly - specifically in terms of British Empire narratives? Amy, Collections Manager, Army & Navy Club.
There isnt anything senstivive about history - its either true or it isnt. Its about what people did, what wwere the political motives, you cant talk about sensativity - it allows historians to use sensative to twist history by saying 'X defended one black person' 'he did gradual abolition therefore he was a abolisihist - when in reality
people can take the truth - but i'd argue poltics and those in power with superiority cant take the truth.
Bring in different views, make sure you have the conflicts from either side represented.
its how you communicate these changes to your current group and to new groups that show how you're working.
The truth cannot be managed by sensativity
''I think if you want to accurately represent people, you need their voices, their opinions, their thoughts not just ours as curators or professionals. We cannot speaks for everyone. But how do you reach out to community groups, and how do you do it without sounding like we are saying "please educate us"?'' - a question by Hannah, national museum of the royal navy.
'musuems often pick people up and drop them.' You need to build up those relationships and do longer term projects. Work to develop relationships rather than picking them up. - Damian Etheraads.
too many 'projects' and not enough longer commitment. -Myfanwy lloyd
These projects don't cost much, they take time and mindsets to change. - damian etheraads
What was so inferoir is now so superior we wont send them back? - geoff palmer
sensativity should be dealt with after we do the work - GP
pay people for thier time. Community connectors. No more free projects - damian believes he gets less funding for asking people.
Pay a fair wage or artists unions.