Between meaning culture and presence effects: contemporary biomedical objects as a challenge to museums

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Standard

Between meaning culture and presence effects : contemporary biomedical objects as a challenge to museums. / Söderqvist, Thomas; Bencard, Adam; Mordhorst, Camilla.

In: Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A, Vol. 40, No. 4, 12.2009, p. 431-438.

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Harvard

Söderqvist, T, Bencard, A & Mordhorst, C 2009, 'Between meaning culture and presence effects: contemporary biomedical objects as a challenge to museums', Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A, vol. 40, no. 4, pp. 431-438. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsa.2009.10.010

APA

Söderqvist, T., Bencard, A., & Mordhorst, C. (2009). Between meaning culture and presence effects: contemporary biomedical objects as a challenge to museums. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A, 40(4), 431-438. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsa.2009.10.010

Vancouver

Söderqvist T, Bencard A, Mordhorst C. Between meaning culture and presence effects: contemporary biomedical objects as a challenge to museums. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A. 2009 Dec;40(4):431-438. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsa.2009.10.010

Author

Söderqvist, Thomas ; Bencard, Adam ; Mordhorst, Camilla. / Between meaning culture and presence effects : contemporary biomedical objects as a challenge to museums. In: Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A. 2009 ; Vol. 40, No. 4. pp. 431-438.

Bibtex

@article{7b50c2d10dfc4ff7b0ed06aeabfb5edc,
title = "Between meaning culture and presence effects: contemporary biomedical objects as a challenge to museums",
abstract = "The acquisition and display of material artefacts is the raison d'{\^e}tre of museums. But what constitutes a museum artefact? Contemporary medicine (biomedicine) is increasingly producing artefacts that do not fit the traditional museological understanding of what constitutes a material, tangible artefact. Museums today are therefore caught in a paradox. On the one hand, medical science and technologies are having an increasing pervasive impact on the way contemporary life is lived and understood and is therefore a central part of the contemporary world. On the other hand, the objects involved in medical diagnostics and therapies are becoming increasingly invisible and intangible and therefore seem to have no role to play as artefacts in a museum context. Consequently, museums are at risk of becoming alienated from an increasingly important part of contemporary society. This essay elaborates the paradox by employing Gumbrecht's (2004) distinction between 'presence' and 'meaning'.",
keywords = "Contemporary science, Exhibitions, History of medical science, Material culture/materiality, Presence effects, Public engagement with science, Technology and medicine",
author = "Thomas S{\"o}derqvist and Adam Bencard and Camilla Mordhorst",
year = "2009",
month = dec,
doi = "10.1016/j.shpsa.2009.10.010",
language = "English",
volume = "40",
pages = "431--438",
journal = "Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A",
issn = "0039-3681",
publisher = "Pergamon Press",
number = "4",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Between meaning culture and presence effects

T2 - contemporary biomedical objects as a challenge to museums

AU - Söderqvist, Thomas

AU - Bencard, Adam

AU - Mordhorst, Camilla

PY - 2009/12

Y1 - 2009/12

N2 - The acquisition and display of material artefacts is the raison d'être of museums. But what constitutes a museum artefact? Contemporary medicine (biomedicine) is increasingly producing artefacts that do not fit the traditional museological understanding of what constitutes a material, tangible artefact. Museums today are therefore caught in a paradox. On the one hand, medical science and technologies are having an increasing pervasive impact on the way contemporary life is lived and understood and is therefore a central part of the contemporary world. On the other hand, the objects involved in medical diagnostics and therapies are becoming increasingly invisible and intangible and therefore seem to have no role to play as artefacts in a museum context. Consequently, museums are at risk of becoming alienated from an increasingly important part of contemporary society. This essay elaborates the paradox by employing Gumbrecht's (2004) distinction between 'presence' and 'meaning'.

AB - The acquisition and display of material artefacts is the raison d'être of museums. But what constitutes a museum artefact? Contemporary medicine (biomedicine) is increasingly producing artefacts that do not fit the traditional museological understanding of what constitutes a material, tangible artefact. Museums today are therefore caught in a paradox. On the one hand, medical science and technologies are having an increasing pervasive impact on the way contemporary life is lived and understood and is therefore a central part of the contemporary world. On the other hand, the objects involved in medical diagnostics and therapies are becoming increasingly invisible and intangible and therefore seem to have no role to play as artefacts in a museum context. Consequently, museums are at risk of becoming alienated from an increasingly important part of contemporary society. This essay elaborates the paradox by employing Gumbrecht's (2004) distinction between 'presence' and 'meaning'.

KW - Contemporary science

KW - Exhibitions

KW - History of medical science

KW - Material culture/materiality

KW - Presence effects

KW - Public engagement with science

KW - Technology and medicine

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=70849083955&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.shpsa.2009.10.010

DO - 10.1016/j.shpsa.2009.10.010

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 20481193

AN - SCOPUS:70849083955

VL - 40

SP - 431

EP - 438

JO - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A

JF - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A

SN - 0039-3681

IS - 4

ER -

ID: 269727377