Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Is culture brokered like stocks, real estate, or marriage? In this engaging book, Richard Kurin shows that cultures are also mediated and indeed brokered by countries, organizations, communities, and individuals -- all with their own vision of the truth and varying abilities to impose it on others. Arguing that cultural exhibits reflect a series of decisions about representing someone, someplace, and something, Reflections of a Culture Broker discusses the ethical and technical problems faced by not only those who practice in a museum setting but also anyone charged with representing culture in a public forum.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 287-307) and index.
About the Author
Richard Kurin, formerly director of the Smithsonian's Center for Folklife Programs and Cultural Studies, is Under Secretary for History, Art, and Culture at the Smithsonian Institution.