Museums and the Shaping of Knowledge

Museums have been active in shaping knowledge over the last six hundred years. Yet what is their function within today's society? At the present time when funding is becoming increasingly scarce, difficult questions are being asked about the justification of museums. "Museums and the Shaping of Knowledge" presents a critical nature of museums. Through the examination of case studies, Eilean Hooper-Greenhill reveals a variety of different roles for museums in the production and shaping of knowledge. This book should be of interest to museum and heritage care professionals, as well as upper level students in museum studies, heritage studies and cultural history.