CYCLES OF (S)ELECTION: FROM COLLECTING TO EXHIBITING
Channel: European Association of Archaeologists
Date: 12/12/2020

Both histories of archaeological collections and narratives of the past presented to the public are defined by moments of selection. The task of museum archaeologists to present past peoples and societies means working with archaeological repositories accumulated in their institutions as a result of both intentionally selected and unintentionally collected samples of the past (excavations, donations, chance finds etc.) These assemblages are structured into collections according to some preconceived criteria, that again include the (s)election and ordering of the archaeological evidence. Finally, just a minimal part of the museum collection is exhibited, with the aim of creating a comprehensive narrative of the past. The question thus arises of the authority that underpins the re-constructed context of the past. The narrative is based firstly upon the already artificial construct of the collection and further constrained by another stage of selection (exhibits), most of the time grounded in the curator’s affinities that are dependent upon his/her professional criteria, but also upon the perceived aesthetic value and expected appeal for the audience. Is the resultant narrative the one of authority? Whose authority? Do these cycles of (s)election depend primarily upon the changes in the professional sphere or upon the wider social setting? The points raised will be illustrated by the example of the National Museum, Belgrade, whose permanent exhibition is currently under reconstruction.


Author(s): Cvjeticanin, Tatjana (National Museum in Belgrade) - Babic, Stasa (Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade)