Jane Peirson Jones, “The Colonial Legacy and the Community: The Gallery 33 Project,” in Museums and Communities. The Politics of Public Culture, pp. 221-241, 1992.
= The essay is based on discussions that took place during the 1990 anthropology exhibitions. Jane Jones was given the responsibility by the patrons in the late twentieth century. She was given the task of putting together a new anthropology exhibit that would include a shared display of the town’s collection (Jones, 1992). A section of the museum’s holdings would be used in the show to bring Birmingham’s varied cultures together. It is a city where people of many ethnicities coexist. They include blacks from marginalized communities, Chinese, and whites. Many of the locals’ forefathers moved to Birmingham many years ago. The town was once known as a metal industry hub. However, it is no longer referred to in this manner nowadays. The goal of the project was to highlight people’s beliefs, practices, and cultures not just in Birmingham, but around the world.
• What is the subject, and why is it important to the students?
= It’s Gallery Project 33, and it’s for Birmingham residents. A class is a group of people who have the same social rank. Because the neighborhoods are culturally diverse and prosperous, they are considered upper-class. Furthermore, the museum’s visitors are well-off and educated. The exhibition is a crossroads of cultures, and Birmingham is a melting pot. In addition, the display area is spacious enough to handle a significant number of guests as well as audiovisual equipment. An interactive video has a reputation for conveying messages that people can understand (Jones, 1992). Advanced technology will be able to meet the town’s diverse requirements.
• What are the primary issues mentioned in the article/news segment that are linked to class? The main focus is on the museum’s contribution to understanding the late twentieth-century world and the items it has gathered in the past. The world is rapidly progressing in terms of technology. Many individuals are ignorant of the artifacts that were used in the past. Similarly, consider how Project 33 might address the needs of various groups of museum visitors. Distinct people have different expectations and preferences. An issue that is seen ‘good’ by one person may be deemed ‘bad’ by another. Aside from that, how an exhibition may deal with people’s public interest issues is also a concern. The wealthy residents have distinct needs that must be addressed. Project 33 will have to take this into account. Furthermore, the language that will be utilized in the display is a concern (Jones, 1992). They must assess if inhabitants are satisfied with the use of specific terms and phrases. Finally, the black minority group requested that Project 33 pay more attention to them.
• Was a specific point of view adopted? How was it justified or legitimized?
= Project 33 was supposed to focus particularly on black people, but they rejected. The explanation is that the project would have seen that they are discriminating and don’t focus on other ethnicities. Jane’s advisory group also remarked that there were insufficient artifacts. They went on to collect Hindu and Sikh artifacts (Jones, 1992). Similarly, the team found there was a financial shortfall. They later helped to arrange a sponsorship contract. Finally, the show aimed to promote anti-racism education. They accomplished this by displaying materials at the museum that were free of racism. There were also family festival events. Chinese New Year, Ramadan, and Greek Christmas are just a few examples. Furthermore, it contributed in garnering public recognition. Comment on the reading in a critical but constructive manner. Do you believe the topic being discussed is important, controversial, or deserving of attention? Do you agree with the author’s point of view? If so, how would you go about doing it? Why not, if not? Is there anything about it that bothers you? Was there anything lacking, in your opinion? What could have been done to make it “better”? What could be the “next step”?
= The most important factor is that Birmingham sought to use the museum to bring its residents together, regardless of tribes or origins. The goal of the project was for people to appreciate the culture and traditions of others. The topic being discussed is significant since it will assist residents in valuing one another. It would also encourage unity and love. Similarly, I concur with the author’s assessment of the exhibition. Jane enlisted the expertise of an expert group to help her design the museum. All of this was done to make tourists feel at ease. Similarly, the author did not disturb me in the least. Jane did everything she could to ensure the project’s success. The article was missing something, which featured food, music, and dancing festivals. Those are the symbols of diversity. Having a large podium that could accommodate a large number of local and foreign tourists would have been preferable. People, after all, enjoy being entertained. The many Birmingham tribes should organize themselves and each group to have unique presentation days. In addition, the introduction of food is the following step. Refreshments should be provided free of charge so that residents can experience the impact of visiting the museum.
• Prepare a couple of questions that you think would be helpful for class discussion and post them on BB ahead of time. Q1: What motivated Percy Amaury Talbot to become an ethnographer?
An ethnographer is someone who studies people in their natural surroundings. Sociology and anthropology are both related to ethnography. He was passionate about it, and races around the world are rapidly changing, so Percy wanted to document those who were unaffected by white influence (Page 233, last paragraph).
Q2: How did Ida Wench raise funds for her missionary work? (Page 232 of the book)
Ida was a missionary who kept historical objects in her home. She used to encourage girls in school to produce crafts, such as bags. Ida used to buy them for a penny apiece (Jones, 1992). She also exhibited her crafts in missionary shows in England (second paragraph).
References
J. P. Jones, J. P. Jones, J. P. Jones, J (1992). The Gallery 33 initiative is about the colonial legacy and the community. 221-241 in The Politics of Public Culture.
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