Available July 2009
How do museums deal with contested historical issues? How do you exhibit causes, effects and concepts by means of objects? These are just two of the key issues facing contemporary museums which this important new publication addresses.
In November 2008, The Danish Resistance Museum (part of the National Museums of Denmark) held a conference on The Power of the Object: Museums and World War II. The conference papers and discussions form the basis of this important new publication, supplemented by additional invited essays.
Esben Kjeldbaek, Head of the Museum and Conference Organiser, outlines the perspective of the publication: “The idea is to discuss how museums in very different European countries show the history of World War II, with special attention being given to the role of authentic objects from the war in our collections and exhibitions. We use our common denominator – the object – as a point of departure for contributions that cover a wide range of questions and show differences as well as similarities between our museums.
The publication explores issues such as these:
• How do you exhibit causes, effects and concepts by way of objects?
• Does the role of objects change? Are they still the basis of the museum?
• Does the public accept our choice and interpretation of objects? If not: why?
• How do museums deal with contested historical issues?
• What outside pressures and obligations might a World War II museum be under?
• What relevance and what future do World War II museums have?
“The answers help to give us a better understanding of trends and differences in European museums that deal with World War II. They might also help us improve our own exhibitions and perhaps create new networks.”
Authors include:
James Taylor, Imperial War Museum, London
Esben Kjeldbaek, Museum of Danish Resistance, Copenhagen
Patrick Nefors, Musée Royal de l’Armée, Belgium
Christopher Addy, Jersey War Tunnels Museum
Anne Godfroid, Musée Royal de l’Armée, Belgium
Hans Henrik Appel (Royal Danish Arsenal Museum)
Danute Dura, Museum of the Occupation of Latvia
Heiki Ahonen, Museum of Occupations, Tallinn
Clemens Maier-Wolthausen, History-Memory, Germany
Marcel Wouters, Marcelwoutersontwerpers BV, Netherlands
Henrik Skov Kristensen, Froslev Camp Museum, Denmark
Publication details
Title: The Power of the Object: Museums and World War II
Editor: Esben Kjeldbaek
ISBN: 978-0-9561943-4-3
Binding: Paperback
Published by: MuseumsEtc
Publication Date: July 2009
