The core point of his commentary is the disappointment that cultural institutions such as The Tate Britain have been so neglected by the government charged with their care that they must resort to the tactics of a shopping mall or high-end restaurant to continue operations. In his eyes the are alone should prove worthwhile enough to keep visitors flowing and government revenue flowing in. Consumerism focused details in the museum such as gift shops filled with hip merchandise and the signs pointing towards them are the main issues that exist within the museum. In Stallabrass' eyes the museum interior is sad but he rails the hardest against the Tate for allowing major corporations such as BP to use their brand in attempt at reputation laundering. He goes on to describe BP's use of the brand as doing "anything to distract from the filth, corruption, and oppression that inevitably accompany its core activity." Overall the Tate has taken the steps necessary to ensure its survival in the 21st century. My take is that you can't blame The Tate as company for the apathy of politicians and the general public as it is simply trying to survive.
attention from the fi
lth, corruption and oppression that inevitably accompany its core
activity.
I have to say that I disagree with your take on Julian Stallabrass' thoughts. To think that The Tate Britain needs branding as a pivotal part of its existence is a sad proposal, and to chalk the debate up by stating that there is no other way of existence is, I think, quite lazy. Yes, many museums in London are publicly funded, but the branding and commercialization of these museums should be, if anything, a slight monetary addition, not a lifeline. The purpose of a museum is to educate the population on culture and history; instead, now, we see commercialization appealing to a more broad audience, which is a good thing, yet at the same time neglecting to educate a population in depth. What we now get is a lot of people going to these places and learning very little, if anything. Although visually appealing and grandeur, I do not need to see large, bare, hallways within the walls of a museum. These museums receive large subsidies from the state, and should not have to harbor complacency in order to survive. I ask you this: if we continue to neglect in depth learning and thinking, how do we suppose to maintain the same level of knowledge? Books? Yes, maybe. I think, however, that it is the job of publicly funded cultural and educational museums to not only cultivate passion in the individuals who spend time at these places, but also to thoroughly educate, whatever the "lack of broad appeal" consequences may be. Thank you for attending my TED Talk.
ReplyDeleteYeah this is more of Tedx talk imo
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