Museum Practices and the Posthumanities: Curating for Planetary Habitability

The book "Museum Practices and the Posthumanities: Curating for Planetary Habitability" critiques modern museologies and curatorial practices that are complicit in emerging existential crises. It presents novel, more-than-human curatorial visions, methods, frameworks, policies, and museologies that radically refigure the epistemological foundations of curatorial, museological thinking, and practice for a habitable planet. The book argues that human-centred frameworks and forms of human agency are ill-equipped to deal with the contemporary world's rapid digital transformations, post-Covid living, climate change, and other societal changes. It aims to inspire museological scholars and professionals to conduct research and curate from a different ecological reference point to promote a world good enough for all things to thrive in radical co-existence.

Format: Hardback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 24 October 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book critically examines modern museologies and curatorial practices that have contributed to emerging existential crises. It presents novel and innovative curatorial visions, methodologies, frameworks, policies, and museologies that aim to radically redefine the epistemological foundations of curatorial, museological thinking, and practice for a habitable planet.

In the realm of modern curatorial and museological practices, humanism has taken center stage, driven by the pursuit of capital growth, social progress, technological advancements, hubris, extraction, speciesist logics, and colonial domination. These practices often operate without explicit reflection on their ecological implications, despite the fact that history, science, and technology museums have always been inherently ecological due to their engagement with non-human worlds.

Museum Practices and the Posthumanities: Curating for Planetary Habitability uncovers the limitations of these human-centered frameworks and forms of human agency within museums. It reveals how these practices are ill-equipped to address the contemporary world, characterized by rapid digital transformations, post-Covid living, climate change, and its far-reaching impacts on society. The book aims to provide museological scholars and museum professionals with the inspiration and guidance to conduct research and curate from a different ecological perspective, fostering a world that is conducive to the thriving of all things in radical co-existence.

The book explores the need for museums to shift their focus from human-centric narratives to more-than-human perspectives. It advocates for a reimagining of curatorial practices that recognizes the inherent interconnectedness of humans, non-humans, and the natural world. By adopting a posthumanist approach, museums can cultivate a deeper understanding of the complex relationships and interdependencies that exist between different species and ecosystems.

Furthermore, the book proposes a range of innovative methodologies and frameworks that can facilitate this shift. It encourages museums to adopt a holistic and interdisciplinary approach, drawing on fields such as environmental science, anthropology, sociology, and philosophy to understand the complex dynamics of human-non-human relationships and their impact on the planet. It also suggests the use of new technologies, such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence, to create immersive and interactive experiences that allow visitors to engage with non-human worlds in new and meaningful ways.

In addition to these methodological and technological considerations, the book also addresses the ethical and political dimensions of curating for planetary habitability. It emphasizes the importance of decolonizing museums and their collections, recognizing the historical and ongoing contributions of marginalized communities and indigenous peoples to the preservation and understanding of cultural heritage. It calls for museums to engage in ongoing dialogue and collaboration with these communities to ensure that their voices and perspectives are heard and represented in their exhibitions and programs.

Overall, Museum Practices and the Posthumanities: Curating for Planetary Habitability offers a comprehensive and visionary approach to reimagining curatorial and museological practices for a habitable planet. By embracing a more-than-human perspective, museums can play a vital role in promoting environmental sustainability, social justice, and cultural diversity. It provides a roadmap for museums to navigate the complex challenges of the contemporary world and create a future that is both prosperous and sustainable for all things.

Weight: 740g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780415792011