Griffith

Marie Valbrune
Week #2
Wonderous Difference Chapter 1 and 2
September 11, 2011

The first reading talks about the concept of a Museum as it was earlier on and what it strived to be. The American Museum of natural History in New York like most museums was a place for the high class and enlightens individuals. There was a debate on should the access of museums be extended to the masses. The museum groups were looking for ways to make a trip to the museum more attractive to all socioeconomic backgrounds. It seems that the focus shifted slightly to focus on entertainment and filling the museums and the educational aspect had become secondary.
The Ultimate goal was to create an environment that would visually be capable of educating and at the same time be captivating enough to fill the museums and create spectators. As the world changed and the way we see things changed the museum groups too had to find a way to give the museum goer an exciting way to see exhibits. There needed to be a way to show an exhibit without having the person taking the picture or setting the scene to be part of the exhibit or for the visual affects to seem to unnatural.