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Gendering Objects at the V&A and Vasa Museums

Daybell, James ; Heyam, Kit ; Norrhem, Svante LU and Severinsson, Emma LU (2020) In Museum International 72(1-2). p.106-117
Abstract
This article presents two case studies, which are the result of the application of a gendered interpretative tool to the collections at the Victoria & Albert Museum (London) and the Vasa Museum (Stockholm). Objects and their gendered narratives within the museums’ collections were researched across their lifecycle, from commission and manufacture to consumption and display in a museum setting. This research was developed in close co-operation between researchers, curators, and museum professionals, seeking to develop best practice guidance on making diverse gendered history more visible in the museum space. The team of researchers, curators and museum professionals identified and researched a selection of early modern objects and their... (More)
This article presents two case studies, which are the result of the application of a gendered interpretative tool to the collections at the Victoria & Albert Museum (London) and the Vasa Museum (Stockholm). Objects and their gendered narratives within the museums’ collections were researched across their lifecycle, from commission and manufacture to consumption and display in a museum setting. This research was developed in close co-operation between researchers, curators, and museum professionals, seeking to develop best practice guidance on making diverse gendered history more visible in the museum space. The team of researchers, curators and museum professionals identified and researched a selection of early modern objects and their gendered narratives within the museums' collections. We argue that this gendered analytical focus not only reveals the relevance of gender to the production, consumption and use of any given object in the early modern period, but also how society was organised in a global context. Using two hats at the Vasa and V&A Museums to demonstrate this methodology, we argue for greater awareness of gender as an important analytical category within the museum environment. The application of gendered historiographical analysis has the demonstrable potential to facilitate new gendered perspectives on museum objects, leading to a more deep and diverse representation of gender in curation and interpretation, and further, that this transformation of curatorial and interpretative practice can lead to increased engagement from audiences marginalised by their gender and/or sexuality. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)

Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
museum practices, Museum Studies, gender and sexuality issues, early modern materiality, Early Modern History
in
Museum International
volume
72
issue
1-2
pages
12 pages
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:85089701281
ISSN
1020-2226
DOI
10.1080/13500775.2020.1779465
project
Gendered Interpretations at the Victoria&Albert Museum and the Vasa Museum
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b5602c05-187e-4a75-8749-c11ca48cf8e4
date added to LUP
2020-02-06 10:35:06
date last changed
2023-04-10 08:36:38
@article{b5602c05-187e-4a75-8749-c11ca48cf8e4,
  abstract     = {{This article presents two case studies, which are the result of the application of a gendered interpretative tool to the collections at the Victoria & Albert Museum (London) and the Vasa Museum (Stockholm). Objects and their gendered narratives within the museums’ collections were researched across their lifecycle, from commission and manufacture to consumption and display in a museum setting. This research was developed in close co-operation between researchers, curators, and museum professionals, seeking to develop best practice guidance on making diverse gendered history more visible in the museum space. The team of researchers, curators and museum professionals identified and researched a selection of early modern objects and their gendered narratives within the museums' collections. We argue that this gendered analytical focus not only reveals the relevance of gender to the production, consumption and use of any given object in the early modern period, but also how society was organised in a global context. Using two hats at the Vasa and V&A Museums to demonstrate this methodology, we argue for greater awareness of gender as an important analytical category within the museum environment. The application of gendered historiographical analysis has the demonstrable potential to facilitate new gendered perspectives on museum objects, leading to a more deep and diverse representation of gender in curation and interpretation, and further, that this transformation of curatorial and interpretative practice can lead to increased engagement from audiences marginalised by their gender and/or sexuality.}},
  author       = {{Daybell, James and Heyam, Kit and Norrhem, Svante and Severinsson, Emma}},
  issn         = {{1020-2226}},
  keywords     = {{museum practices; Museum Studies; gender and sexuality issues; early modern materiality; Early Modern History}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{08}},
  number       = {{1-2}},
  pages        = {{106--117}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Museum International}},
  title        = {{Gendering Objects at the V&A and Vasa Museums}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13500775.2020.1779465}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/13500775.2020.1779465}},
  volume       = {{72}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}