Role Of Communication In Museums

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Communication in museums As mentioned above, one of the main functions of the museum is to communicate, promote and disseminate their collections. Theorists such as Eilean Hooper Greenhill emphasizes the labor of the museum as an educating entity, highlighting the concept of communication. Therefore, it is necessary to take the communication process in museums into consideration. In the next paragraphs, I will mention the most important aspects of this process and some models used in museums and addressed by Hooper Greenhill. “The act of communication is one that aims to produce an effect on another person or persons” (Hopper Greenhill 2004, p.30). Based on this, the simple communication model consists of one person sending a message to …show more content…

(Hooper-Greenhill, E, 2004). Shannon and Weaver communication model applied to exhibitions. However, the Shannon and Weaver model did not fit completely the communication process in museums. So, in 1968 Duncan Cameron suggested that, in a museum, there are many transmitters, many media, and many receivers. Figure 5. (Hooper-Greenhill, E, 2004). Cameron communication model. In the 70’s Knez and Wright made modifications on Cameron’s model, agreeing that the museum is a communication system, and also recognizing that the professionals of the museum, such as curators, exhibit designers, or educationalists as function as transmitters, and the receivers as the visitors. (Whittle 1997, p. 13). Figure 6. (Hooper-Greenhill, E, 2004). Knez and Wright communication model. In the late 90’s, Hooper Greenhill (2004, p. 40) addressed a holistic approach to museum communication focused on the museum’s image and the general experience of the visit. This includes the museum´s building, the attitude of the museum staff, activities, events and educational programs, museum shops, among others. This approach is fundamental in the communication museum field today, where the museum is considered a participatory and active actor in the cultural life of the …show more content…

(Hooper-Greenhill, E, 1996). Holistic approach to museum communication by Hooper-Greenhill. Therefore, the communicative process in the museum includes the functions to exhibit and interpret. When considering the holistic approach to museum communication, we must consider all the elements that converge in the museum, from the aspects of the operation of the institution, the image of the staff to the general experience of the

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