American Museums and Activism: Social Awakening, Changing Missions

Öz

The 21st-century social and political life in the United States is tainted by its divisive climate, which, in turn, is inspiring a renewed sense of activism in the museum space and beyond. Although this situation is welcomed by different circles, the increasing trend towards museum programming for social purposes comes with difficulties. The aim of this study is to reveal the scope of recent American museum activism trends by looking into some important cases. With the information gathered through reviewing literature and archival material in the context of social history, museums leading in social action in the U.S. are examined, lessons that can be learned by museums that are trying to take more activist positions in this field are determined, and how social activism fundamentally changed American museology is researched. In this study, it is proposed that American museums can have a say in sociopolitical issues when they apply activism-based practices as a part of the communities they are in and serve, and when they take a stand in line with their mission instead of simply staying neutral.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• American museums
• activism
• mission
• museum studies

Amerikan Müzeleri ve Aktivizm: Sosyal Uyanışlar, Değişen Misyonlar

Öz

21. yüzyılda Amerika Birleşik Devletleri'ndeki sosyal ve politik yaşamı karakterize eden bölücü iklim, müze alanında ve ötesinde yenilenmiş bir aktivizm duygusuna ilham vermektedir. Bu durum, farklı çevreler tarafından olumlu karşılansa da sosyal amaçlı müze uygulamalarına yönelik artan eğilim, zorlukları da beraberinde getirmektedir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, son dönem Amerikan müze aktivizminin kapsamını bazı önemli vakalar aracılığıyla ortaya koymaktır. Sosyal tarih bağlamında literatür ve arşiv taramasıyla toplanan bilgilerle ABD’de toplumsal eylemde öncülük eden müzeler incelenmiş, insan hakları konularında daha aktivist pozisyonlar almaya çalışan müzelerin bu alanda sıklıkla ön saflarda yer alan müzelerden neler öğrenebileceği araştırılmış ve sosyal aktivizmin ABD’deki müzeleri temelden nasıl değiştirdiği ele alınmıştır. Bu çalışmada Amerikan müzelerinin içinde bulundukları ve hizmet ettikleri toplulukların bir parçası olarak aktivizm uygulamalarına başvurdukları ve tarafsız olmak yerine misyonları doğrultusunda tavır aldıkları zaman sosyopolitik konularda söz sahibi olabildikleri öne sürülmüştür.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Amerikan müzeleri
• aktivizm
• misyon
• müze çalışmaları

Kaynakça

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