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Museum Art Criticism
Much can be learned from some of the methods used to look at material
culture objects in history museums. When I studied Material
Culture/Decorative Arts as part of my museum studies degree at Colonial
Williamsburg I was given the following list of questions to ask an object:
Nine Models of Interpretation
- Art Historical
- Symbolic - role an object holds in society
- Cultural - development of characteristics of an object which can be
related to particular cultures - e.g. regional styles.
- Environmental - role of the physical environment on objects - e.g.
natural resources available, etc.
- Functionalist - the way an object is used
- Structuralist - how the object was physically made
- Behaviorist - interaction of the object and behavior patterns
- Community - interaction of the object and the society which
forms/reflects a common viewpoint/character.
- Social historical - the story of the object itself or provenance
I think these models can be applied to "art" since art really is the
product of a culture. By REALLY understanding the artwork and why it was
created, we have an avenue to the deeper meanings. This approach can be
used when dealing with any work of art, not just contemporary. If it
becomes a way to "read" a work that the students become accustomed to,
you have given them tools to deal with the visual world for the rest of
their lives, and some excellent critical thinking skills!
Submitted by Katherine Walker, Beach Museum of Art, Kansas State University.
