Between meaning culture and presence effects: contemporary biomedical objects as a challenge to museums
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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 journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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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