How does the museum communicate? Analysis of the theoretical background of exhibition communication in the light of school sessions.

Abstract

The primary intellectual trend that determined the founding of modern museums was rationalism, which was one of the reasons these institutions positioned themselves as a repository of universal knowledge. Their main aim was to systematize and preserve the knowledge of mankind for a long time. In line with this, the focus of their communication was on the transfer of various knowledge and the enlightenment of the laity. However, the digital transformation has changed the museumgoer’s both content consumption and knowledge acquisition habits, which museums need to take into account when planning various exhibitions and museum sessions. My hypothesis is that knowledge of newer communication theories can help both museum educators and educators in school preparation classes to process the museum experience and achieve the educational goal more effectively. Theoretical background and the starting point of the research are the communication theories identified by Hooper-Greenhill and Nielsen in their studies of museum and exhibition communication. In this study, I examine communication theories from different discourses of museum communication, based on practical experience. In the last six years, I monthly organized school sessions in museums. In this period, altogether, more than 450 people participated in these sessions in 22 domestic and international museums and collections in Hungary and the surrounding countries. The aim of my research on exhibition communication is to map the relationship between communication theories and museum discourse, the results of which will hopefully provide support for the design of support materials for group, school sessions, and individual visits, as well as the development of more effective educational tools.