Public Representations of Immigrants in Museums: Exhibition and Exposure in France and Germany

This book explores how a Franco-German museum exhibition represents immigrants and exposes public stereotypes, using a microsociological contextualization analysis to compare formats of museum work, social interaction, and mass media debates. It reveals the symbolic nature of interactions in museums, such as conflicting political voices and accusations of censorship, and how they are geared towards securing immigrants a place in national collective memory, carrying out debate on integration, or providing opportunities for personal encounters and reflection beyond national categorization.

Format: Hardback
Length: 401 pages
Publication date: 22 February 2018
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This captivating book delves into the intricate realm of public representation, knowledge, and immigration within museum institutions, offering a fresh and engaging interactionist perspective. Through a meticulous examination of a Franco-German museum exhibition that portrays immigrants and challenges societal stereotypes, the analysis traces the journey of the exhibition as it traversed from Paris to Berlin. The author proposes a groundbreaking microsociological contextualization analysis, seamlessly blending discourse analysis and ethnography, to compare the diverse formats of museum work, the social interactions within the exhibition, and the public debates surrounding it.

The reception of visitors to the various exhibition versions unveils the symbolic nature of interactions within museums, particularly in the context of conflicting political voices and accusations of censorship. These interactions, shaped by the institutional context, serve different purposes, ranging from securing immigrants a place in national collective memory to fostering debates on integration and providing opportunities for personal encounters and introspection that transcend national categorizations.

This comprehensive book is a treasure trove for students and researchers passionate about exploring the intersections of sociology, cultural studies, and discursive psychology. It offers invaluable insights into methods of discourse analysis and ethnography, providing a rich foundation for understanding the complexities of public representation and the role of museums in shaping societal narratives. Moreover, practitioners working in museums will find this book to be a valuable resource, offering practical strategies and approaches to enhance the visitor experience and promote inclusive and reflective dialogue within these cultural spaces.

Weight: 678g
Dimension: 158 x 221 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783319663562
Edition number: 1st ed. 2018