Guidelines For Critical Review of a Museum Exhibition



A good exhibition review should address most of the following points. Please consider the specific questions listed under each item to be suggestions rather than edicts. In other words, use your good judgment in adapting this model to the assignment.

WHAT STORY IS THE CURATOR TRYING TO TELL?

1. Include a brief description and summary of the exhibition's theme or subject. What is the thesis or message of the exhibition?

2. What do you think is the purpose or goal of the exhibition? What is the museum trying to accomplish with it?

HOW HAS THE CURATOR ORGANIZED THE EXHIBIT TO ACCOMPLISH THE PURPOSE?

1. What is the method of the exhibition, i.e. what kinds of artifacts make up the exhibition and how are they used to tell the story the museum wants to tell?

2. How are the artifacts displayed? Can you understand what they are and how they function as evidence to support the theme of the exhibition? Is there a sufficient number or variety of artifacts to support the theme? Are the artifacts displayed so that you get a sense of their historical context? Do the artifacts selected document a sense of change over time (should they)?

3. How is the exhibit organized? What is the logic of its organization? Why are the artifacts arranged just so? How do you enter or leave the exhibit (does it matter)? Is the exhibit in the form of a historical narrative? Is it thematic? Is it topical? Is it artifact driven? Are the artifacts ordered so that they demonstrate causality or motivation in human history?

4. What kinds of exhibition techniques have been used? In other words, what are the "constructed" aspects of the exhibition? Are there labels for the artifacts? What kinds of information do they convey? Are there audio-visual components or interactive displays? In what kinds of display cases or sets are the artifacts displayed? What kind of technical artistry has been emplyed in creating the exhibit?

WHAT IS YOUR CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE EXHIBIT?


1. Does the exhibit tell the story the curator intends to tell? Is this an effective exhibit?

2. What are its strengths and weaknesses? What are the confusing parts (and why)? What are the enjoyable parts (and why)? Does any part of the exhibit make a point in a particularly dramatic or delightful way? Does any part of the exhibit cause you to lose interest?

3. Is the method effective? Are the artifacts chosen appropriate to the topic or theme? Do they convince you of the exhibit's message?

4. How effective are the constructed aspects of the exhibition? Can you read and understand the labels? Do the audio-visual segments communicate clearly? Do you understand the purpose of the interactive components? Did you learn from them? Does the exhibit create a "world" that tells an effective story?

5. Are there any biases or hidden agendas in the exhibit? Be suspicious! Who has underwritten the exhibit? Do you detect any biases in the story being told? Does the exhibit suggest that only certain kinds of artifacts are valuable to our culture? Does it suggest that only certain topics or subjects of history are important? Does it embody any "historical fallacies"?

WHAT IS YOUR INTERPRETATION OF THE EXHIBIT?


1. What is your summary judgment of the exhibition? What did it mean for you? What is its importance (did it teach you something? was it entertaining? did it exemplify "how not to do a museum exhibit")?

2. What does the exhibition communicate about American society or culture? Did you learn anything about American history? Did the exhibition convey a message relevant to contemporary American society? Did you gain any insight about yourself? about the characteristics of American culture?

3. Evaluate the exhibit as a cultural artifact in its own right. What are the cultural implications of the exhibit? What does it reveal about the values and priorities of the museum? about the values and priorities of American culture-at-large?