ISS 25 (1995).pdf - The International Council of Museums

presentation of development all along the line. synopsis of scopes with a focal point and of the
real life 15, illustrative material in the museum, vividness of history by analogy and
simultaneousness. 16
Implicated in the same way should be the principle of "language" (speech) in its own and in a
rendered sense, with the objects of past as "a basis for an integrative construction of historical
completeness." 17
Out of this great diversity of possibilities, I have in my mind as a purpose to select only two
categories, namely the rank of the historic dimension in view of common problems of
museums, and in contrast to it the basi cal idea of" scopes of the real life" as well as their actual
reflexion in museums and memorial sites and document-centers of contemporary history.
The historic dimension and "scopes of the real life"
After these considerations it will be tried to exposed some examples how actual problems in
museums, houses of history, and in historic sites and memorial places belonging to museums
are dealed with. Also interesting is the discussion of themes of contemporary history, and,
under respect to the community and the education in politics, how the reactions of museum
conditions and the "history of future" are generally discussed. The representation of
contemporary history in museum is a subject high-explosive; otherwise than the general
presentation in museums of art, history or cultural-history it has immediately the target of
political education and of developing the democracy.
Therefore the common-social connections with the museum-tasks are here more intensively
than in other types of museums. In contrast to traditional conceptions of museums, especially
the contemporary history challenges novel, innovative and communicative designs in order to
fulfill its important task in view of a common and a socio-political effectiveness. Already
Humboldt was anxious to regard the "heads and sense of a different kind" .18 That means in
relation to a museum of contemporary history nothing else than to consider how different
museum-visitors take notice of our world and reflect the political appearance and, finally,
which conclusions they decide. In addition to that and under respect to the conditions of
museums, the" great variety by that the objects outside move our senses" 19 is to be paid the
way of attention. In the "50th year of commemorating" after the end of the NS-regime this
claim concentrates in the presence of contemporary historic museums and KZ-memorial places.
The present political situation challenges their explication on the part by the responsibles and
guarantees in addition to that significance in the whole community as well as public interest.
Years of commemoration by all means pursue the purpose, to recall and bring political topics
generally into the consciousness. With this intention they hope to awake newly this subjects to
life and to prevent their going to ruin as a "dead matter".
Democratic Museum
Setting a strong light to the present museum position face to face with the community today,
museums are generally characterized to have to be democratic. " A democratic museum isn't
one that writes chronicles of wars in golden capitals or one that stylizes the powerfuls to
supermen. Rather it informs about the history of people, about the social-history of average-
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19
as Ill. 3. Bd .. 2.H. 1815·1834. s. 541.
OS IV, 2. S. 47.
Bann. Stephen: Poetik des Musewn - Lenoir und du Sonunerard. In: RUsen. JJ E.rru.t. W.I GrOner, H.Th. Gescillcht.e sehen. Beitrag.;:
zur A.sthctik. histonschcr Mu.sc:en. Praffenweiler 1988. S. 35-49.
OS L 7: Theorie der- Bildung des Menschen. BruchstOck (1793). S. 287.
Ebenda. s. 285.
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