Museums: the powerful disseminators of radical thought?

Having recently discovered the writings of the great early Twentieth Century anarchist Emma Goldman. I note that she was particularly engaged with culture as a means of the dissemination of ideas. In her world view ideally as a disseminator of radical thought. Theatre was seen as a powerful tool, for example here is her analysis of George Bernard Shaw's 'Major Barbara' in her essay 'The Social Significance of Modern Drama'.

"...Shaw the dramatist is closer to life--closer to reality, closer- to the historic truth that the people wrest only as much liberty as they have the intelligence to want and the courage to take."

Her subtle and insightful analysis of Shaw, of Major Barbara, and humanity, and society in general is brilliant.

However, before I get carried away, I must bring this back to museums. Are we, as museum practitioners, intelligent enough and courageous enough to get closer to the lives of our audience, to the historic truth of our mission and liberty of thought?

We as a profession in this country have suffered from uncertainty and a lack of confidence for many years. Although this hasn't been only limited to museums as cultural institutions, has this existential angst grown to tip the unconscious into the conscious of our exhibitions, events and education activities?

Can we give a much stronger voice to our longing for social change that values intellectual inquiry and cultural activity in the same way Emma Goldman hoped that theatrical drama would? She had Chekhov and Gorki and the various Russian Revolutions to excite her. We are up against the X Factor, Strictly Come Dancing and political  and intellectual apathy, surely museums must fill that gap. We and Goldman must be the same, here's an edited extract from 'Anarchism and other essays'
She could equally expressing hope for museums as she is for theatrical drama,

"...what other medium could rouse the indignation of Man's conscience? Self-satisfied as the 'cultured' usually are, they could not understand why one should fuss about the fact that thousands of people were starving. Surrounded by beauty...,they could not believe that side by side with them lived human beings degraded to a position lower than a beast's...without hope or ambition. "

Can we be,

"...a bomb explosion, shaking the social structure to its very foundations."

I may just be dreaming, but wouldn't it be wonderful to change lives in this way. If I may be free to be inspired by Goldman again.

The modern museum, operating through the double channel of curator and interpreter, affecting as it does both mind and heart, can be the strongest force in developing social capital, swelling the powerful tide of knowledge over the dam of ignorance, prejudice and superstition.

I like to think that is why we do what we do.

Labour Elect a People's Museum

Saturday 12th September

Headline in the Independent newspaper website (who buys newspapers anymore?)

"Jeremy Corbyn wins Labour leadership election: Landslide victory over Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall"

Suddenly Conservative Party members are rubbing their hands at the prospect of electoral victories for many years to come and the left wing establishment are collectively facepalming. Tim Farron (who is Tim Farron you might ask? The Lib Dem leader since July in case you hadn't noticed - along with the rest of the country) suddenly sees the prospect of a revival of the centre left in politics and in his dreams.

Why? Because Jeremy Corbyn is a piece of Labour party heritage, a living museum piece. New Labour is no more, Old Labour is back. Just like museums! We are currently trying to make the past relevant to modern audiences, we are trying to get objects out of glass cases and putting them into the hands of the general public. Why shouldn't political parties do the same? 

"...objects are able to take the visitor back in time to discover the people involved."*

Jeremy Corbyn is such an object. Let him take you back to a world where:

• railways are state run
• there's a 75% top rate of tax on the wealthy
• no nuclear weapons
• strong rent controls
• no tuition fees
• no wars in the east

That is enough to bring a nostalgic tear to citizens of a certain age. It is not the mythical past that UKIP are trying to recreate, but to a recognisably pre-Thatcherite age. Will it happen?

What commentators seem to have forgotten is that all the above policies have widespread support from the British general public. Indeed, it seems we are all closet old labour socialists. But will we come out of the closet and begin going on protest marches and vote Labour ever again?

Another way of putting it, are we as likely to vote Labour as to think going to a museum is a good thing to do on a weekend?  We all know museums are important. We all know that they play an important part in preserving our culture. We know where they are, but do we go there? Or does the IKEA sale, the round of golf or just festering quietly in front of 'Murder She Wrote' seem more attractive?

Sadly I fear Jeremy Corbyn, will go the way of publicly funded museums. He is a good idea, even necessary perhaps, and although we implicitly support his ideology we won't vote for him.  His inevitable crushing defeat at the next General Election and subsequent resignation will leave the posh boys** in charge for another term.

Do we get the politician's we deserve? Sometimes we do, but we don't always vote for them.

Do we get the museum's we deserve? Sometimes we do, but we don't always visit them.

What is Jeremy Corbyn's favourite museum? I would put my meagre salary on it being the People's History Museum in Manchester. A truly amazing museum, with truly amazing staff - but have you visited it recently?

Sadly it is a possibility that neither Mr. Corbyn or the People's History Museum will be around in 2020, and who's fault is that?

You have been warned.

All together now!

The people's flag is deepest red,
It shrouded oft our martyred dead,
And ere their limbs grew stiff and cold,
Their hearts' blood dyed its ev'ry fold.

etc.

 

*D.Lynn McTierney, Smithsonian Institute, http://museumstudies.si.edu/McRainey.htm 
** posh boys - a technical term roughly defined as 'an arrogantly entitled male elite'. Google the term and a pictures of our present Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer feature prominently. I will of course be voting for them in the next election to keep UKIP out.

Good quotes to adapt for your next museum staff meeting

1. "I don't want yes-men around me. I want everyone to tell the truth, even if it costs them their jobs." Samuel Goldwyn

2. "Right now, this is a job. If I advance any higher, this would be my career. And if this were my career, I'd have to throw myself in front of a train." Jim Halpert, The Office

3. "Success in almost any field depends more on energy and drive than it does on intelligence. This explains why we have so many stupid leaders." Sloan Wilson

4. "The light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off due to budget cuts."Anonymous

5. "The best way to appreciate your job is to imagine yourself without one." Oscar Wilde

6. "The key to being a good manager is keeping the people who hate you away from those who are still undecided." Casey Stengel

7. "The most ineffective workers are systematically moved to the place where they can do the least damage: management." Scott Adams (Dilbert)

8. "Every time you feel yourself being pulled into other people's drama, repeat these word: Not my circus, not my monkeys." Polish Proverb

9. "Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't." Margaret Thatcher

10. "If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses." Attributed to Henry Ford




source:

http://www.inc.com/john-brandon/16-funny-quotes-to-start-your-next-business-presentation.html

The Art of War: the way forward for museum managers?

Being a museum manager is often being compared to being a general in an army at war (or did I just make that up?). Sun Tzu’s book The Art of War is one of the world’s most referenced books on strategy. It is primarily bothered with the best terrain to enable you to kill your enemies more efficiently, which is why it is a properly macho work for thrusting business leaders to read. Although it was written more than 2,000 ago by someone who may, or may not, have existed, is there anything more museums can learn from the work? I should add a note of caution at this point;

"Unfortunately, the application of The Art of War is often too aggressive, short-sighted or otherwise lacking in relevance. In some cases, this broad philosophy and mindset is applied to a very minute aspect of society or life. In other cases, some aspect of our society may change and people fail to consider that Tzu's writings may not be entirely appropriate any longer, or simply not valid most of the time."*

But I am going to follow the modern zeitgeist and ignore the accusations of ancient irrelevance and wildly and irresponsibly translate Sun Tsu's lessons to museums for your benefit.

1. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin.

Translation: working in museums is our life and will be the death of us having ruined our livers in the pub over the road.

2. According as circumstances are favourable, one should modify one’s plans.

Translation: museum circumstances are rarely favourable so why bother planning

3. Ground on which we can only be saved from destruction by fighting without delay, is desperate ground.

Translation: Collections that can only be saved from destruction by conserving without delay should be thrown in the nearest skip. 

4. On open ground, do not try to block the enemy’s way. On the ground of intersecting highways, join hands with your enemies.

Translation: When the museum door is open don't stop the visitors coming in, but once in forcibly drag them the round the displays.

5. If he is secure at all points, prepare for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him.

Translation: If a customer complaint is on its way, get your excuses prepared, if he is a body builder - hide.

6. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest.

Translation: take away all seating to get the visitors round the displays and out the door as soon as possible.

7. Prohibit the taking of omens, and do away with superstitious doubts.

Translation: cash only on the door and no concessions for witches

8. To you know your enemy you must become your enemy

Translation: wander around the exhibitions and loudly criticise the displays to anyone who'll listen 

9. Use the conquered foe to augment one’s strength.

Translation: only keep items in lost property for 35 minutes before putting them on ebay

10. There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged war.

Translation: never extend opening times 

*http://attrition.org/security/rants/fsck_sun_tzu/