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Museum Studies Commons

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Full-Text Articles in Museum Studies

Ethical Issues: Good, Bad, And Ugly, Roann Barris Mar 2018

Ethical Issues: Good, Bad, And Ugly, Roann Barris

Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings

Censorship: it is unlikely that any academic, especially in the arts, would come out in favor of censorship. But what is the right course of action when a student's work in a graduation show offends the public? And if steps are taken to remove the presumably offensive work, are we betraying our beliefs about the value of student's work or promoting good relationships with the public? This has been an active year for ethical questions about art -- but who expect them to be our own issues? Details about this case and all the roles played will be provided as …


Resist: A Controversial Display And Reflections On The Academic Library’S Role In Promoting Discourse And Engagement, Stephanie Beene, Cindy Pierard Jan 2018

Resist: A Controversial Display And Reflections On The Academic Library’S Role In Promoting Discourse And Engagement, Stephanie Beene, Cindy Pierard

Urban Library Journal

Libraries engage communities in a variety of ways, including through exhibitions and displays. However, librarians may not always know how to promote critical discourse if controversy arises surrounding exhibits or displays. This article reflects on one academic library’s experience hosting a controversial display during a divisive political time for the library’s parent institution, its broader urban community, and the United States as a whole. The authors contextualize the display, created by a local art collective, against the backdrop of creative activism, and consider implications for library displays and exhibits within similar environments. Rather than retreating from controversy, libraries have an …