Then we complain about the fight for funding and diversity, how there needs to be more community outreach and influence, how we need to create more interactive learning environments, how exhibits need to be more ground breaking, to consider the context of their environment - how there is a LOT to be done still...
Okay then, so what's going on?
"It's not about the museums, it's about the community, education, and how we are taught to interact and utilize museums," Marianna says. "It's the doldrums." She raises an interesting point.
The education system - it's policies, practices, classroom/school culture - everything, is generally set up to prepare us for mundane-passive-citizenship-factory life - from the ringing bell to the rows of desks; to be mechanical, orderly obedient participants in society. To not question, to not think critically or depict the realities of the world outside...we are shaped to teach, learn, participate in a very specific way, independent of the vastly different linguistic, cultural, familial, economic, political backgrounds we all come from. It's no surprise that most museums have similarly stagnant policies, expectations, and learning cultures that impact the values of those who influence the field - whether they are visitors or program developers or directors.
Yes, it's the system baby. So if I want to change the system. Where do I start?
As I'm looking into doctoral education programs, faculty, and their research, I'm delving into sociocultural theories that have been explored since the 60's. They explore inequalities in education and question the ongoing disparities between communities, YET that was then...and now, 50 years later, what has changed? What needs to be changed?
The tiny, tiny possibility of entering this field is helping me think about systems, the possibilities of transforming them, and what contributions have and need to be made in the field. Marianna often tells me that in order to change systems you have work with with them, "everyone keeps running away or fighting the unmovable system - sometimes you have to be friends with the enemy in order to do something." She also tells me that systems don't change.
SO why are we still so in love with museums, so much so we taking classes in them, dedicate whole summers for them - sometimes unpaid?
When extremely reluctant to end a relationship that was presently not a good fit YET had incredible potential, my friend said to me, "Joy, you can't date someone just for their potential."
Although I am not ready to break up with the museum world, with this profession that has led me to fight for social justice and community-based art initiatives, I am very much prepared to commit to it - solely for it's potential. So much so I may even enter another field in hopes of bettering it...is that cheating?
