Abstract

CORRAL GUILLE, Gustavo. Education or motivation? The Human Biology exhibition and the new exhibition approach at the London Natural History Museum, 1968-1977. Dynamis [online]. 2018, vol.38, n.2, pp.477-504. ISSN 2340-7948.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/s0211-95362018000200009.

This article analyzes changes made in the exhibition program of the London Natural History Museum (NHM) throughout the 1970s, moving from a discourse based on real specimens to one centered on audiovisual media, interactive devices, and highly structured scripts. We explore the difficult economic state of the United Kingdom at this time, which impacted on the funding for museums in general and for the NHM in particular. We suggest that this situation encouraged and accelerated these major changes, given that the Museum had to demonstrate that it was a socially responsible institution. From this time on, the visitor acquired greater importance, even above that of the collections. Designers of exhibitions turned to the latest education and communication theories and exhibition techniques in order to combine education and entertainment. New professionals at the Museum were incorporated into the exhibition creation process, replacing curators who were traditionally responsible for this work and had very different values and practices.

Keywords : natural history museum; education; interactivity; England.

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