Identities, memories, histories and representation : the role of museums in twentieth century KwaZulu-Natal.
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Date
2003
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Abstract
The history of museums in South Africa dates back to 1825 when the South African
Museum (SAM) was established in Cape Town. Initially museums in South Africa were
established for science and local history was seen as peripheral. Nevertheless, this began
to change during the early 1920s as artifacts of historical nature gained popularity, saving
them from historical oblivion in museums. Museums themselves broadened their role to
become major centres of both scientific and historical knowledge.
When museums started to include historical artifacts, they entered a terrain which was
influenced by a racist ideology of segregation and then apartheid. Thus, they became
centres of political discourse and mirrors of the white domination in South Africa. From
the 1920s museums served to propagate certain myths which was based on the subjugation
of Africans by white settlers. Museums played a pivotal role in entrenching ideas of white
settlement in Natal as a triumph over barbarism, savage and heathenism. Exhibitions
within the museums reflected certain identities at the expense of others. It was not until the
1980s that the political scenario forced museums to examine their role and adapt to the
new order. This marked the beginning of a new dispensation in the politics and poetics of
museum displaying. During the 1990s issues of representation in museums became
popular. Historians were among those who became interested in the question of how to
represent the South African a turbulent past in a post apartheid South Africa. This era was
characterized by new displays which are more accommodative and represent diverse
population groups of South Africa.
Exhibitions in museums always involve political ramifications and ideas within
exhibitions draw reference to the powerful groups in the making of political and social
discourse. During the post- apartheid era, KwaZulu-Natal museums reflect new identities
which are based on non-racialism and interaction of diverse people of the province. They
no longer serve as reference point for white domination and educational programmes are
more multidimensional and appeal to all sectors of our society. The thesis adopted in this
piece of work is that museums are political institutions and reflect the political identities of
the society that they live. They cannot be divorced from their time and circumstances.
Description
Thesis (M.A.)-University of Durban-Westville, 2003.
Keywords
Museums--Philosophy., Museums--Social aspects., Museums--Educational aspects., Theses--History.