Museums and the Public Sphere

Reviews / Votes

"[Barrett]constructs a framework within which it is possible toboth confront some startling realities about the gap betweenmuseums' purported 'public' role and their efficacy andrelevance in the 'public sphere', and consider initiativesthat might rectify this situation." (Visitor Studies Journal, 9March 2012) "An elegant application of Habermas' theory of thepublic sphere to museums, this book adds greatly to ourunderstanding of the nature of public museums. The focus on theimportance of spaciality and vision in the history of museums andpublic spaces is particularly enlightening." Andrea Witcomb, Deakin University "Barrett tackles head on the assumption that the museum isa public institution. She artfully unravels the many publics ofcontemporary museum talk - public space, publicculture, public intellectual, public sphere. At last museumscholars and practitioners have a book that gives these termshistorical specificity and theoretical precision. Museums and thepublic sphere is must read for any one who believes in museums,their relevance and their future." Jane M. Jacobs,University of Edinburgh