Learning at the Museum Frontiers

In the socio-cultural landscape of the twenty-first century the museum has power. It has been seen variously as a sanctuary, a place of knowledge, a forum and a vital player in democracy, but it can also spark bitter controversy as an icon of western colonialism in particular contexts. In "Learning at the Museum Frontiers", Viv Golding argues that the museum has the potential to function as a frontier: a zone where learning is created, new identities are forged and new connections made between disparate groups and their own histories. She draws on a range of theoretical perspectives including Gadamer's philosophical hermeneutics, Foucauldian discourse on space and power, and post colonial and Black feminist theory, as well as her own professional experience in museum education over a ten-year period. She goes on to apply her ideas to a wide range of other museum contexts. The book offers an important theoretical and empirical contribution to the debate on the value of museums and what they can contribute to society. The author reveals the radical potential of museums in tackling injustice and social exclusion, challenging racism, enhancing knowledge and promoting truth.