Full Description
What are museums for? How far should museums shift from their traditional focus on high culture to explore popular culture? How can the passion people feel for popular material culture best be conveyed in displays? In attempting to answer these fundamental questions, Kevin Moore offers a radical critique of existing museum practice, arguing that, in order to have a sustainable future, museums must rise to the challenge of representing popular culture. Drawing on examples (both successful and unsuccessful) of contemporary museum practice, including the V&A's blockbuster shows on David Bowie and Alexander McQueen, and the Saatchi Gallery's Rolling Stones exhibiti, he seeks to unravel the paradox that to reflect popular culture adequately, museums may need to abandon their traditional form.
Contents
Introduction
1. Museums in an age of paradox
2. Museums don't matter?
3. Back to basics
4. Stones can speak and objects can sing
5. Sex and drugs and rock'n'roll ... and museums?
6. Popular culture in museums since 1997
7. It's coming home, it's coming home, this football's coming home
8. Case study: football in museums
9. Real things, real places, real people
Bibliography
Index
