Introducing Museums
Teens
by LearnX Arts
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Arts LFA LearnX Package: Introducing Museums (Teens)
The word “museum” originates from the Greek term “mouseion” or the “seat of the Muses”, which refers to the nine Muses who are goddesses of the arts and sciences in Greek mythology. It is a place where objects of historical, scientific, artistic, or cultural interest are stored and exhibited. With so many items and categories, how did the collections in museums even come about?
While the idea of collecting objects may have dated as far back as the Neo-Babylonian Empire in the 6th century B.C. (over 2,600 years ago), many scholars often relate our modern museums to the “Kunstkammer” or “Cabinet of Curiosities” popularised in 17th century Europe. These were unique (often private) collections of natural and historic relics from all over the world, which the rich used to showcase their wealth or knowledge.
However, not all exhibits in the past could be trusted. Sometimes, there were fake items on display, such as P. T. Barnum’s “Feejee Mermaid”, brought to the American Museum in 1842, which turned out not to be an actual mermaid but a monkey’s torso attached to the tail of a fish. Yikes!
Museums were eventually regulated and became an important way for anyone to learn about the world around them (and beyond).
Imperato, F. (1599). Ritratto del museo di Ferrante Imperato [Engraving]. Dell'Historia Naturale, Naples, Italy.
TLDR? Watch a short recap of why we have museums here:
Why do we have museums? - J. V. Maranto (5m 44s)
Uncover the history of museums in this short video to see how the ones we visit today have evolved from those from over 2000 years ago!
Source: TED-Ed. (2015, Feb 6). Why do we have museums? - J. V. Maranto [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/MHo928fd2wE?si=WAoIbbyJ6ZnEAzzV
Museums of today feature varied collections! Here are some unusual museums that you can visit with your friends or family:
Welcome to the Asian Civilisations Museum (1m 29s)
The Asian Civilisations Museum fosters a deeper understanding of the diverse heritage of Singapore, cross-cultural interactions within Asia and the rest of the world.
Source: Asian Civilisations Museum. (2018, Nov 12). Welcome to the Asian Civilisations Museum [Video]. Youtube. https://youtu.be/VVb5Cms0Pis?si=Bbc_ftiefFrNt4Cy
For specific museums to consider, skip ahead to:
- 1:21 for the Vintage Camera Museum.
- 5:00 for the Kindness Gallery.
- 8:27 for the Musical Box Museum.
- 13:52 for the Natural History Museum.
- 18:30 for the Design Museum.
Hot Wheels, Tamagotchi, McDonald’s: Your childhood toys at National Museum of Singapore exhibit (4m 9s)
Take a nostalgic trip down memory lane at National Museum of Singapore's exhibit Play:Date – Unlocking Cabinets of Play which features popular childhood toys of the past such as Tamagotchi, Hot Wheels, Barbie and more.
Source: CNA. (2024, Jul 5). Hot Wheels, Tamagotchi, McDonald’s: Your childhood toys at National Museum of Singapore exhibit [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/Oa2fizc_DqA?si=AcatDnIsl8Gr_KCz
Exploring Singapore’s only video game museum | CNA Lifestyle (4m 9s)
Discover the history of video gaming and try your hand at the classics such as Pac-Man and Space Invaders at the James Cook University Museum of Video and Computer Games!
Source: CNA Lifestyle. (2019, Jan 25). Exploring Singapore’s only video game museum | CNA Lifestyle [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/m_BLFUcB27Q?si=6LHeDH1Slf444ZKF
Take a tour of some strange fictional museums and explore the importance of museums in these suggested reads:
1. The Time Museum Vol. 2
Author: Matthew Loux
Publisher: First Second, 2019
Call No.: Y 741.5973 LOU - [CMX]
Borrow the eBook from our library here.
Teaming up with the Epoch Squad under the command of Richard Nixon, Delia and her fellow time travellers visit 1778 Versailles to save a historic alliance between France and the United States.
Publisher: First Second, 2019
Adapted from: us.macmillan.com / Book Cover
2. What Adults Don't Know About Art: Inspiring Young Minds to Love and Enjoy Art
Publisher: The School of Life, 2020
Call No.: Y 701.18 WHA
Find this book at our libraries here.
Everyone tells kids that art matters - but the truth is that very often it's hard to know why it really does. Museum visits can feel like a chore, as does having to learn the names of the big artists we're all meant to love (but perhaps don't quite in the way we're supposed to). Here is a guide to art for children with a difference: in a tone that's kindly, informative, unstuffy and at times rightly irreverent, this book explains how art can fit into our lives.
Publisher: The School of Life, 2020
Adapted from: theschooloflife.com / Book Cover
Citations:
Richman-Abdou, K. (2018, March 31). How museums evolved over time from private collections to modern institutions. My Modern Met. mymodernmet.com/history-of-museums/
Sotheby’s Institute of Art. (2018, August 28). Cabinets of curiosities and the origin of collecting. Sotheby’s Institute of Art. www.sothebysinstitute.com/news-and-events/news/cabinets-of-curiosities-and-the-origin-of-collecting
Encyclopedia Britannica, inc. (2024, August 18). P.T. Barnum. Encyclopedia Britannica. www.britannica.com/biography/P-T-Barnum