I do not find museums all that interesting.
Yes, the merit and value of ancient artifacts are considerable to the curious mind, but what of minds less inquisitive of the past, like mine?
Don’t get me wrong. I do enjoy learning journeys to places like the Ancient Civilizations museum. But what I find caught my eye was a particular article in Today:
“In a bid to reach "couch potatoes" and get more people to visit museums,
Singaporeans and people abroad can access some 6,000 images with Singapore's
first online collection of national artifacts and artworks at http://www.sgcool.sg/.”
Evidently, the National Heritage Board is trying hard to, “-to let people know that museums are not sleepy, dusty and old-fashioned."
In this age of technology, the museums themselves are gradually becoming the very things they house: relics of the past. As reliance on the Internet for information grows, the rather conspicuous truth is that museums will and are dying out.
But they will not go gentle into that good night. Dr Lee Boon Yang, Minister for Information, Communication and the Arts, recently urged the NHB to, instead "leverage on the power of the Internet to reach out to even more people".
Hence the initiative allowing visitors to, “-after getting a taste of the artifacts online… visit the museums and experience the real thing,” paving the way for more convenient access to the museum’s library of knowledge while generating awareness at the same time.
Yet, I do not share sentiments of any one having his interest aroused through browsing these pictures, which, to exacerbate matters, are “of a low resolution to avoid copyright issues.”
Only enthusiasts would likely be surfing on the waves of information pictorial. He who is planning to visiting the museum but wants more information would find his time well spent here. The average person, however, middle-age or teen, would simply not bother. He would be drowned in a most boring fashion by this online flood of knowledge, which effectively puts out any sparks of interest he might harbour.
Appealing to those who do not frequent museums would be a better course of action. To stimulate the teenager’s curiousity, perhaps revolutionizing the museum as a hip, cool place would be effective. Personally, this is a rather novel notion. I wouldn’t mind paying a visit.
The same goes for the average adult much too busy for a museum visit. Launch specific programs and exhibits which pertain especially to them.
But all these are easier said than done. My point is that currently they are appealing to the wrong audience.
I do not frequent museums. It is not somewhere I deem “fun”. Educational, yes, but not in an enjoyable sense. Like school. Like an online collection of pictures of ancient manuscripts or precious vases.
I applaud their bid to reach a wider audience, but they will have to adopt more effective practices. The National Heritage Board will likely find that the online collection leaves visitors bored, and that only aficionados need apply.
Link to the article:
http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=38862421&postID=6527520203491978288
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