The Dangerous Museum. Participatory practices and controversy in museums today

Authors

  • Britta Tøndborg

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5617/nm.3075

Keywords:

museums, controversy, hot topics, participation, relational art

Abstract

Whereas museums shunned controversy in the past, this article argues that as museums embrace the new trend of audience participation some have also opted to introduce “hot topics” into museum exhibitions. Museum professionals who have adopted this particular form of museum practice predict that it has the potential to reform museums as we know them, and to turn museums into active agents for democratic change in society. In a bid to understand and scrutinize the implications of this development in museums, the article consults critiques raised by art critics writing about a related development in contemporary art, i.e. relational and participatory art forms. 

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Issue

No. 2 (2013)

Section

Articles

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