The American Art Museum: Elitism and Democracy (Contemporary Issues in Museum Culture)

Born in the 19th century, the American art museum defined the American nation as an advancing, successessful, democratic culture, rich in art and in the means of sharing this treasure with the people. The democratic and capitalist underpinnings of the museum created an institution sometimes at odds with itself. The museum is a democratic institution and has as part of its mission the aim of the education of the masses. However, the holdings of the art museum are of a rarefied nature and often require an degree of knowledge in order to fully appreciate them. The contradictions and conflicts arising from such conditions are the subject of this book.