Final Reflection

Final Reflection

When I applied to LaGuardia Community College I wasn't sure what career I wanted pursue. After changing my major several times I decided to pursue a Liberal Arts degree of Math and Science (AS); considering i'm naturally good at both. When I was told by an advisor that I had to take a course about American Museums I was confused as to how this relates to such. However, by analysing articles, creating blogs and attending field trips to museums; This Liberal arts: Humanism, Science and Technology course used a variety of issues related to american museums that helped my identify my purpose and plans for the future.

On a class field trip to the American Museum of Natural History, I saw first-hand how art can be used to educate viewers. For example, the theory of evolution was displayed by a huge replica of what was said to be dinosaurs fossils. Although dinosaur fossils can be used for educational purposes to support the theory of evolution, art also plays a huge part in the processing of the information.  As I learned in my previous psychology class, depending on the person different neurons are triggered when processing information. The article we read in the LIB200 class: “A MERE CHILD’S TOY”: MAKING THE (DIFFICULT) CASE FOR HANDS-ON EXHIBITS also agrees stating,

“The bare symbols of scientific language require their definitions to be strengthened by actual seeing and touching before any permanent trace can be left in the mind.”.

Although some may disagree with this statement, we can all agree that people learn differently, depending on the person. When education is the motive of such art, the variety of the form of media is important. This is why in my final project I considered everything thing I've learned throughout my college experience and decided to include several different forms of art in my project.

The final project for this course was to create our own exhibition. This class helped me identify the roles of which an exhibit must consider. Being that this is my last semester, a course such as my critical thinking and business helped me question my art exhibit with questions like “What is the best way to get my target audience to understand certain ideas/theories?” and “what medium can be used to make this experience exciting and educational”. These questions allow me to display certain pieces not only by their aesthetics but considering how the viewer might portray such information.

Although my LIB200 course was mandatory for graduation, this course helped me identify the relationship between my hobbies and my career as a Liberal Arts: Math and Science graduate. Whilst my artistic endeavors as a makeup artist fulfill my inner drive to portray the world as I see it, commissioned work can fluctuate, especially in a place such as New York City.

However, a demand for chemical engineers that are capable of making new makeup formulations is at an all time high. My original goal was to pursue a degree that would pique my interest and also have the paygrade to support my artistic endeavors in NYC. So, eventually, I concluded: why not just combine the two and use my artistic talent and scientific knowledge to create new formulations for PETA approved makeup formulations for women of color? I would then be able to support my artistic endeavors and pursue a career path that would complement my artistic goals.

Prior to attending this class, I would have never thought attending a liberal arts course about American Museums can help me find a middle ground between my hobbies of creating art, such as painting, sculpting, makeup, and what I've learned in school, such as critical thinking, chemistry, and quantitative reasoning. American museums play a huge role in how society portrays science and art. In my case, American museums played a role in allowing me to reflect on the impact art and science has in my life and our future as a whole.

The British Museum Policy On Human Remains Analysis

The British Museum is a well written open-to-the-public policy that seems spot on when it comes to defining their understanding of the term “human remains” and the conditions for transferring remains however they were vague in their intentions . It seems like museum’s main intention of this policy is to avoid any future legal issues.

This policy reminded me of the article “Curiosity cabinet”, where human remains would be pickled or displayed for art. In the British museum it is depicted that human remains are displayed for educational purposes. However, after reading the policy several questions came up. It seems like the remains are being treated as objects rather actual humans. In Section 5.6 it states,  “Museum will remind researchers of their ethical obligations with regard to human remains.”  Why would they have to be reminded ? and what are their ethical obligations?

Science museum analysis

 The questioning of who the curator is trying to target seems to a recurring thought of mine when reading this article. Art can be arbitrary; there are so many different forms of art. When incorporating science with art, like science museums, curators should identify its target audience and figure out  different ways better convey their message.

According to the article, Science is correct. “It promised to solve problems and answer questions definitively. Science, after all, differentiated from philosophy and religion precisely because it ended debates rather than stimulating them.” Science museums try to display artifacts that support theories that has already been proven accurate. Although religious people might not believe in evolution, if it is a proven idea museums should display it.

      Museums first started with relics and the idea of museums not including certain religious attributes to museums might seem appalling. In my opinion, the idea of religious people not getting insulted or feeling underrepresented in museums are close to never. However, members of the museum's team/panel should have deep discussions about the sacrifices they need to take to motivate their target audience to educate and appreciate art.

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A way of seeing analysis

In The museum as a way of seeing article, Svetlana Alpers brings light to the controversial roles museums are responsible for. Alpers also explains the theory of “ The museum effect”,that says, museums are “turning all objects into works of art”.

What seems to be one of the problems in this article is distinguishing whether the museum's curator is trying to bring conscious attention to the craft visibility or inform us of the culture. Alpers also explained how tedious it is to be a curator of a museum. The article explained how curators  can impact the way we identify the roles museums play in society as a whole.

Museums are responsible to play  many roles in society, from providing factual documents/ artifacts for the better understanding of humanity, allows us to appreciate the ordinary beauties of the nature in a larger and  more detailed scale, to inform us about our culture/history or to create experiences/memories ;like the unforgettable crab she saw. The important role of a curator can expose or hide the biases museum are trying to show.

Alpers used examples, such as, the Musee d'Orsay museum’s curator in a specific exhibit. She explained how their curator made conscious decisions to display certain visual interest in specific spots. Even from what art they placed in front of another to distract a certain visual interest.The controversy of what biases museums support can vary but it solely relies on what the viewer interpretation is that truly matters.

Whether the viewer visits the Musee d'Orsay museum website because they read the impact Cézanne’s art had or because they saw one of his portraits a museum shouldn't matter. Whether it was the art being seen at the museum or  knowledge of the art that triggered the viewer to want to know more shouldn't matter, but the fact that the cuturiotr placement encouraged one to engage in the art deeper.

The problems of what roles museums play, whether religion,technology,and  theories like evolution,should be incorporated can never be solved because they vary from viewer to viewer.  There is no wrong or right answer to display art, however if i was to be a curator in a museum near me I my main focus would be to make my view feel.

Abstract

My museums will be based on the desire to expose the audience to different forms of art work, such as painting, drawings, digital images and sculptures. My exhibit will be called "Mind body and soul" to allow give people from all walks of life to relate to something. I think MOMA PS1 will be the perfect venue to display such work because they have a large venue and their architecture will be the most versatile location due to the different layouts in each room.

Transfer response

After transferring I plan on continuing school and will attend a 4 year college. I haven't applied yet but I plan on going to a cuny. I don't want to go too far away from my family and cuny is more affordable. Given that I am working on a math and science major, I'm considering being a teacher or continuing my nursing degree. A bachelors in science or in education. I also want to learn what exams I would need to take if I get a degree in education. Since I have a year until I apply (Spring 18)  I've been really trying to find a career that can change the future. Aspects such as the generations after us, the environment etc. As technology advances, I want find an outlet to let people improve or reverse the pollution.

My main concern is what jobs I qualify for when get this degree (my associates) in liberal arts math and science. I also want to know the affects of getting a degree in cuny and if 4 years/ jobs  will look down at an community college degree.

Shiver down my spine response

        

   In book Shivers Down Your Spine the author mentions the effect hand-on exhibits has on the evolution of museums. As an anonymous contributor once said “The bare symbols of scientific language requires their definition to be strengthened by actual seeing and touching before any permanent trace can be left in the mind”. I agree with this quote, I too get a better understanding of things when I see it visually opposed to reading about it. I also get a better understanding of the readings we do in class rather than at home because in class it's more interactive. Along with remembering things better when I write things rather than reading it when studying.

Some may say people learn more effectively when they touch or interact with an object, others can disagree. What is not debatable is that everyone has a preference. In psychology class we learn that different interactions trigger different hormones, which varies from person to person.  Some people learn better visually, orally (lecture), hands on, one-on-one etc. Education of which, can be done in different ways and is more or less advocated. But when the debate of whether hands on artifacts and mechanics are against the entire purpose of museums i am not sure where i stand.

     Given that technology is getting more advanced everyday, it's only right to incorporate it in education, in our case, museums. The big question is, when is using technology effective? As we already acknowledge that everyone has a preference so not everyone will be technology savvy. Museums original purpose was to preserve ancient/foreign artifacts. With technology taking over, younger people are more lenient to watching a video or playing a video games rather than watching or reading about a historical object. The author explains On page 193 saying“ with X-Box, Playstation 2 and 3, GameCube, the Wii, iVideo and iPhones now standard “must-haves” for the preteen and teen- and-up constituencies, museums are under pressure  to deliver on “cool” and are afraid the modern museum with be considered boring in a few years. The Choice of rather to update or incorporate more technology in museum is a rather complicated decision.

    Unlike usual I didn't read this article before our previous class and I mentioned in our classroom discussion “imagine if P.T. Barnum had an instagram” but in reality that all museum needed at the time to evolve to what we know as museums today. One thing that you post on social media can “make-or-break” you. Similar to the overuse of technology in educational vicinities. Which can many aspects to consider but most importantly who's your target audience.This article helped me self reflect and ruminate on what career I want to do and consider the target audience and how I want to display my brand.