Description
In his third book for the Smithsonian Institution, where he is with the Center for Education and Museum Studies, Weil argues that museums are not and should not be mysteries, but rationally organized institutions directed toward articulable purposes. He explains how museums can be examined in their entirety and assessed for their overall quality in a demonstrably objective way. An index, apparently, is not required. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Read More
In this volume of 29 essays, Weil's overarching concern is that museums be able to “earn their keep”—that they make themselves matter—in an environment of potentially shrinking resources. Also included in this collection are reflections on the special qualities of art museums, an investigation into the relationship of current copyright law to the visual arts, a detailed consideration of how the museums and legal system of the United States have coped with the problem of Nazi-era art, and a series of delightfully provocative training exercises for those anticipating entry into the museum field.
Read Less