THE STORYTELLER MUSEUM. THE NEW FORM OF AN ETHOGRAPHICAL MUSEUM (Muzeum Opowiadaczy Historii. Nowa forma muzeum etnograficznego)

• Authors: Malinowski Michal
• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

EN

Following the modern humanistic challenges and technological progress the modern museum has to transform in the goal to face the expectations of its future visitors. Young generations educated with new media technologies and contemporary humanistic ideas demand from the visit to the museum not only admiration for objects imprisoned in glass cases. It has been necessary to create animated displays where the visitor's attention has been shifted from previously only possible experience of material object to the virtual reality reconstructions documenting context in which such an object existed. Moreover, such displays could contain not only the rational, encyclopedic information but the universe of narrative knowledge stimulating emotions and imagination. To face such an endeavor it would be recommendable to transform the task of the primary mission of a museum that is gathering collections. The situation based on material displays is to be changed by creating a wide database of physical objects as well as text, sound, audiovisual and multimedia information, reconstructions and virtual simulations. The Storyteller Museum in Konstancin-Jeziona, Czarnow, created in this manner inculcates advanced museum solutions by gathering a unique world oral traditions collection and promoting revival of storytelling practice. It has been devoted to saving and promoting oral heritage from all over the world, as well as finding effective uses for multicultural wisdom. The contemporary world is losing its cultural diversity. Many forms of oral tradition are going to disappear in the near future. The Storyteller Museum has undertaken the mission to preserve and make widely available the oral heritage of as many cultures and geographical areas as possible. Opened in 2002 the museum has been developing advanced methods for gathering and representing ethnographical information, incorporating audio-visual recordings and interactive application for the simulation or reconstruction. New display aims to reconstruct objects in their natural environment including the language as its important element. Oral performances allow to present other indirect elements like acting, moving, dances, rituals, costumes etc. The museum offers its visitors virtual participation into the storytelling process. A virtual figure of a traditional storyteller can interactively respond to the visitors behavior. Digital and media technologies play a crucial role here. Thanks to them the visitor, instead of being only an observer, can become a participant, which may lead to a better understanding and appreciation of the foreign cultures and developing a sense of empathy rather than curiosity. Interaction between the virtual-reality-storytellers and the museum visitor must be held in a natural-like environment and resemble the one between living storytellers and their audiences. Nevertheless, the new technology cannot always replace the immediacy and quality of the real contact between storytellers and their audience. That is why the communication with traditional storytellers should be one of the main objectives of the museum exhibitions.

Keywords

EN

ETHNOGRAPHICAL MUSEUM; STORYTELLER MUSEUM (KONSTANCIN-JEZIORNA)

Discipline

• ARTS_&_ARCHITECTURE: ARTS & ARCHITECTURE

• Publisher: Krajowy Ośrodek Badań i Dokumentacji Zabytków
• Journal: Muzealnictwo
• Year: 2005
• Issue: 46
• Pages: 107-116
• Document type: ARTICLE

Contributors

author

Malinowski Michal

• Michal Malinowski, Muzeum Bajek, Basni i Opowiesci, ul. Diamentowa 8, 05-510 Konstancin-Jeziorna, Czarnow, Poland

Identifiers

CEJSH db identifier

09PLAAAA06677