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

ICOFOM Stavanger 1995
approaches do not exclude eachother. While the empirical-theoretical approach is mainly
heuristic and the praxeological approach designs strategies of behaviour, the philosophical-critical
approach wants to develop a definite point-of-view with resulting guidelines.
Each approach has its own past, present and (probably) future. Once in a while the
developments on each level interconnect in a special way and some synergy is created. In
retrospective these moments are to be considered as turning points in museum history,
frequently described as 'museum revolutions'3.
Three approaches
The empirical-theoretical approach aims at 'substantial rationality', i.e. the ability to see
signifying relationships between different phenomena in reality. Its aim is mainly
descriptive. It tries to understand museological phenomena in their historical and
socio-cultural contexts. Its usefulness is primarily heuristic. The praxeological approach
focusses on ' functional rationality'. Functional rationality is the ability to develop adequate
means (methods, techniques, procedures) to realize ends that have been defined
beforehand. Its aim is applicability. It should give very concrete answers to very concrete
questions.
The third approach towards museology concentrates on the development of a critical
social orientation. In this respect StranskY speaks of 'programme orientation' instead of
'cognitive orientation". It is often suggested that the prevailing attitude among museologists
is one of non-commitment. This criticism concerns museums, the museum profession
as well as museological theory. Views as to a more active social role of museums
initiated some explicit opinions concerning the programme orientation. There are (were)
tWo main schools of thought: 'marxist-leninist museology' and 'new museology' . In
addition some approaches are published which could be described as 'critical museology' .
Marxist-leninist museology was a very normative approach, where axiological norms are
applied leading to a rather strict system of rules. New museology and critical museology
advocate an attitude rather than the application of rules. As it was stated at one MINOM
conference: 'there is not just one methodology in new museology, there are several
possibilities depending the prevalent conditions". Theorization should have the role of
•
The term 'museum revolution' was used first by Duncan Cameron to characterise the radical
changes during the 1950s and 1960s in the United States ('Museums and the world of today.
Museum reform in the 1950s and 1960s', [COM News 23, 1970, (2): 41-45). Other authors using
the term are, for example, Waldisa Russio (,Museu, museologia, museologos e formacao', Revisla
de Muse%gia I, 1989, (I): 7-1 I) and Antun Bauer (in 1983 in his contribution to Muzeologicke
sesity 9) .
Z.Z.StnlnskY, 'Museology: Deus ex Machina', in: V. Sotka ed., Museology and developing
coW/tries - help or manipulation? ICOFOM Study Series 1 (Stockholm 1988) 207-214.
Quoted in A.Desvalh!es, 'Basic paper' , in: V. Sntka ed., Museology and developing countries -
help or mnnipuliltion? ICOFOM Study Series 14 (Stockhnlm 1988) 129-136.
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