Methods of Exhibition Analysis

Exhibitions, as cultural orders and media of display, are of great interest for critical-reflexive cultural studies. The ability to analyse exhibitions is a key competence in socio-cultural research and the professional field of museums. So far, methodological endeavours in exhibition analysis, however, have tended to be experimental or exploratory in character, typically relying on intuitive approaches or individual case studies. Partly, the visibility of methodological approaches also is lacking when sophisticated methods of exhibition analysis are hidden in theme-specific monographs and dissertations, or when guidelines are only published informally online. However, despite existing thematical approaches and implicit use cases of exhibition analysis, there is a lack of explicit methods that are available as ready-to-use solutions for research, teaching and museum practice. In this respect, it is not surprising that no dedicated book on methods for analysing exhibitions exists to date. The book we have developed addresses this gap by systematically compiling a range of exhibition analysis methods, situating them within relevant exhibition discourses and practices, and making them directly applicable through step-by-step instructions. The creation of the compendium followed a book in progress model, evolving gradually through the systematic stocktaking of current approaches, collegial contributions, and the elaboration of specific methods. To a large extent, this process was characterized by early user exchange in the form of text feedback and hands-on method testing. With 21 contributions from a total of 34 authors across a various disciplines and fields of expertise, the final publication approaches exhibition analysis from three perspectives: While the authors of Part I Cultural-Analytical Methods explore open questions in a critical examination of the relationship between exhibitions, institutions, and society, the authors of Part II Perception-Focused Methods are dedicated to the broad spectrum of visitor experiences in understanding exhibitions as public spaces and sites of social appropriation. The authors of Part III Practice-Oriented Methods focus on the everyday life of exhibitions examining how they are practically designed, but also critically questioned and changed in relation to their diverse uses and potential effects. With this variety of methods, the publication aims to provide a concise and diverse tool box for academics, practitioners and students to analyse exhibitions in depth from different perspectives and motivations.

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