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Museums and Identity: Celebrating Diversity in an Ethnically Diverse World

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The Palgrave Handbook of Ethnicity

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Abstract

Issues of national identity are the subject of much discussion and debate, particularly in the fields of social and cultural studies. Museums lie at the center of these debates – their collections, and the presentation and interpretation of these collections, being inextricably linked to national identity. This chapter reviews these current debates within the social and cultural spheres, and locates museums within them. Its purpose is to develop a deeper understanding of the ways in which museums negotiate and construct meanings of national identity.

Over the past few decades, relationships between museums and ethnic societies, including indigenous people have changed dramatically for the better. Communities have demanded a bigger voice in how their cultural heritage, in both tangible and intangible forms, is curated and represented in museums. These changes have led to increased collaborations between museums and source communities. Such collaborative work, among other things, has revealed diversity in the way people experience and understand their cultural heritage. Changing relationships have also given rise to new museum ethics that recognizes this diversity and reflects greater respect for people’s cultural and human rights.

Museums as educational and cultural institutions started as places of learning for learned people. This changed over time as the role of museums increasingly focused on community groups showcasing ethnic identity of people. With history as the main focus of such institutions, museums were seen as institutions that celebrated ethnic identity of its visitors and stakeholders.

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Abbreviations

ICOM:

International Council of Museums

MAA:

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

MOA:

Museum of Anthropology

NMAI:

National Museum of the American Indian

PCAP:

Pacific Collections Access Project

PIMA:

Pacific Islands Museums Association

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anthropology, University of Hawaii-Hilo, Hilo, HI, USA

    Tarisi Vunidilo

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  1. Tarisi Vunidilo
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Correspondence to Tarisi Vunidilo .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept of Socio & Anthro, Rm 309, Univ of Canterbury Dept of Socio & Anthro, Rm 309, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Steven Ratuva

Section Editor information

  1. Department of Anthropology and Sociology, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Steven Ratuva

  2. Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Steven Ratuva

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Vunidilo, T. (2019). Museums and Identity: Celebrating Diversity in an Ethnically Diverse World. In: Ratuva, S. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Ethnicity. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0242-8_135-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0242-8_135-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-981-13-0242-8

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