U.S. Museum Histories and the Politics of Interpretation

<p><em>U.S. Museum Histories and the Politics of Interpretation</em> is the first collection to examine the history of museums in the United States through the lens of the political and ideological underpinnings at the heart of exhibitions collecting and programming.</p><p>Including contributions from historians art historians anthropologists academics and museum professionals the book argues that museums have always been embedded in the politics and culture of their time - whether that means a reification of hegemonic notions of race gender and progress or a challenge to those normative structures. Contributions probe the political nature of collection and interpretation as concept and practice and museum work as both reflective of and contributing to the politics and circulation of power in different historical moments. As a whole the volume provides detailed readings of museums that demonstrate the ways in which these trusted cultural institutions have intervened in shifting concepts of nation community indigeneity race citizenship inclusion identity localism and memory.</p><p><i>U.S. Museum Histories and the Politics of Interpretation</i> makes arguments about the historically and politically rooted nature of cultural production in museums that apply to institutions across the globe. It is essential reading for students and scholars of museum studies public history cultural history art history and memory.</p>