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why just africa? surely if we go down this route that each museum should only really own stuff from it's own country. However that means that each country will

why just africa? surely if we go down this route that each museum should only really own stuff from it's own country. However that means that each country will have a monoculture. So ideally there should be a system of rolling loans to allow normal people (ie those who can't drop £5k to fly out to visit a far away country) to see the culture and history of the world.

threatofrain 7y ago
There's little meaningful exposure to other cultures or worlds by going to museums. I'm sure HN is the kind of place that already has a higher density of museum memberships, but to me, it's all infotainment. I will continue such museum memberships because they're great infotainment for when guests come to town, or when I visit some major city. But how many museum trips does it take to have an interesting take on China and its people without sounding utterly blind? I feel like a lifetime of museum-going might never amount to anything except as toy conversation for a certain kind of social gathering.
- KaiserPro 7y ago
  I'm not sure what museums you are going to, but for me they taught me: 1) a boat load of science 2) natural history (evolution, human interaction etc) 3) how to farm 4) a boat load about the romans[1] 5) basic early middle east history > take to have an interesting take on China and its people without sounding utterly blind You're missing the fundamental point. Museums are generally a cheap way for people to see and understand the world. They serve as an elementary introduction to the world. If something takes a person's eye, they can talk to the curator and be connected to current academic thinking. This is something that normally only happens at university, which is expensive. It is about access, if museums go away history culture and understanding become the preserve of the rich. [1] The Romans are an interesting point. A lot of artefacts are loot from raids especially in the arse end of the empire. Because soldiers were promised land in exchange for service, not only was it colonialism, but they were paid for by the assets of the conquered.

threatofrain 7y ago

There's little meaningful exposure to other cultures or worlds by going to museums. I'm sure HN is the kind of place that already has a higher density of museum memberships, but to me, it's all infotainment. I will continue such museum memberships because they're great infotainment for when guests come to town, or when I visit some major city. But how many museum trips does it take to have an interesting take on China and its people without sounding utterly blind? I feel like a lifetime of museum-going might never amount to anything except as toy conversation for a certain kind of social gathering.

KaiserPro 7y ago
I'm not sure what museums you are going to, but for me they taught me: 1) a boat load of science 2) natural history (evolution, human interaction etc) 3) how to farm 4) a boat load about the romans[1] 5) basic early middle east history > take to have an interesting take on China and its people without sounding utterly blind You're missing the fundamental point. Museums are generally a cheap way for people to see and understand the world. They serve as an elementary introduction to the world. If something takes a person's eye, they can talk to the curator and be connected to current academic thinking. This is something that normally only happens at university, which is expensive. It is about access, if museums go away history culture and understanding become the preserve of the rich. [1] The Romans are an interesting point. A lot of artefacts are loot from raids especially in the arse end of the empire. Because soldiers were promised land in exchange for service, not only was it colonialism, but they were paid for by the assets of the conquered.