My Thesis Topic

As per my second post, I have moved my thesis project idea from the realm of social justice to that of climate change. I want to critically engage with the following questions: are museums recognizing the effects of climate change and taking action in regards to their own institution's climate control systems? Are museums and other cultural institutions within the Rochester area making strides to engage and educate their public about the realities of climate change? Are museums entirely devoted to climate change, such as NYC's The Climate Museum project, able to engage in meaningful discussion with the public on the topic of climate change, environmentalism, and on the topic of actually making changes within one's daily routine in response to climate shifts/pollution?

In other words, I want to be able to critically and qualitatively analyze whether visitors outside of New York City (residents of other large New York cities such as Rochester) have heard of the The Climate Museum or engaged with topics concerning climate change through local institutions' exhibitions, objects, or community outreach programming. How do local Rochesterian museum professionals attempt to engage the public with discussion involving climate change? Does the public find these engagements successful and do these museum professionals find their methods of engaging with said public successful? Are local Rochesterian museums making infrastructure, HVAC, or climate control changes in response to major shifts in temperature, pollution, and weather-related phenomenon (i.e. harsher winters, dryer and hotter summers, wilder fluctuating humidity levels)?

In order to do this I will be reading critical articles and literature from museum professionals dealing with the topic of climate change, infrastructure professionals discussing best practices for climate control and building preservation, and the effect that shifting climates have upon museum objects (humidity, mold, etc.). I will also be interviewing local Rochesterian museum professionals, RIT faculty, and RIT students in regards to how they have engaged with the topic of climate change in a professional sense or through museum visits.

Thesis topic

For my senior thesis topic, I have chosen food to be an overarching theme. Specifically, how museums are using food and alcohol to attract new audiences through experiential events. So far I have narrowed it down to an area that I have found little information about. I would like to look at the appropriateness of the use of these alcohol and food driven programs. There are areas on the spectrum of appropriateness that some museums do not pay attention to and tend to abuse this opportunity to gain attention that does not always fit their mission. An article that I was inspired by was this one here. Understandably, there does not seem to be many scholarly writings about this due to the recent shift with many museums. They are still piloting several of these programs and working through kinks that continue to pop up at museums across the country and presumably around the world.

Senior Thesis: Eleanor Roosevelt and Prospects of Mankind

During my internship in Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project, I found many interesting facts about Eleanor Roosevelt and her fervent interests in world affairs. Not only that, but she also had published more than 8,000 columns, 580 articles, 27 books, 100,000 letters, delivering over 1000 speeches, and appearing on more than 300 radio and television shows, which the Prospects of Mankind is one of their shows.

For those who do not know what the Prospects of Mankind is, This monthly series show, first aired on WGBH in October 1959, was not only a forum for leaders and decision makers to discuss the issues with Eleanor as mediator and host but also a rare assemblage of some of the most distinguished figures of the 20^th century.

Furthermore, the documentary record of her work is invaluable because it resonates with powerful examples of policies, debates and implementation strategies essential to contemporary discussions of democratic values and human rights policies.

I realized, to my disbelief, that her voice has been silenced, her vision and influence shrouded in stereotype or confined to obscure footnotes. In order to spread her voice and vision as well as the Prospects of Mankind, I intend to create an actual exhibition; somewhat, I have to focus on the questions concerning the reflection of her work on the current issues and the visitor engagement;

·      How can an interactive history/politic exhibition engage visitors ESPECIALLY kids in meaningful ways?

·      Will the stories reflect the current issues and people that have been marginalized by mainstream society?

That's what it looked like when I worked on my blog last night. Ha.