Across the world, more than 850 million people visit museums annually. These institutions are big business, attracting billions of dollars in tourist revenue and advancing science while educating and entertaining. But museums are also more than just collections of objects. They are places where ideas are shaped and contested, where conflicts over historical representation and memory play out. The museum’s earliest roots are in classical times, when the Greek word mouseion meant “seat of the Muses,” a group of nine spritely goddesses that were patrons of the arts and sciences. This ancient tradition was copied in the kingly treasure houses of Europe and Asia, where spoils from war and exotic artifacts were displayed along with portraits of monarchs and other eminent citizens.
With the rise of modern nationalism, however, this public display of prestigious cultural artifacts was transformed into national heritage, a symbol of a nation’s power and wealth. It is no coincidence that the rise of the modern museum coincided with imperialism and nationalism. Often, state art museums became part of the process of civilizing a population by transforming the spoils of a war into national property that could be owned and revered. Similarly, palaces and mansions that were once the opulent estates of a mighty monarch now serve as state museums.
By the 17th century, the word museum was being used in Europe to describe a collection of curiosities. Ole Worm’s museum in Copenhagen was so named, and in England John Tradescant’s impressive array at Lambeth was referred to as the “museum” of the University of Oxford, and its catalog was published as the Musaeum Tradescantianum. The museum concept soon expanded to encompass not just individual objects but entire buildings devoted to the preservation of particular collections.
Museums can offer unique perspectives on history and culture that are often missing from mainstream media. They can reveal the histories, timelines, and experiences of minority cultures that have often been ignored. These stories can challenge a person’s worldview and create empathy for those who may be different from themselves.
In the 21st century, museums have struggled to redefine their roles in response to a series of social awakenings that seek to bring diversity, equality, and inclusion to communities that have been under-represented. This has challenged traditional museum practices and pushed museums to reexamine the very foundations of their missions and methodologies.
From the architecture of a museum building to the way in which it is curated, museums have become the focus of ongoing debates about their meaning and purpose. The result is a growing awareness that museums are not just about preserving and displaying objects, but about constructing, challenging, and defending the ideas that they stand for. As the Museum of Modern Art in New York City demonstrates, this is a complex task with far-reaching implications. The future of the museum will depend on its ability to reexamine and reform its own traditions.
