What is Happening to Museums?

Going to museums was a major part of my childhood. Every summer my mother would take us around to the different museums and historical sights. My sister and I were raised to respect the artwork and history that we experienced. I cannot imagine having done all of that exploring solely on the computer. Getting to take part in the reenactments in Williamsburg, Jamestown, and battlefields is what made the experience exciting. Therefore, even if museums were to put a majority of their exhibits on-line, I would want to have to opportunity to see the pieces in real life. Being able to stand in front of a painting allows the viewer to decide how they should look at it. The distance, point of view and lighting effects all determine the beauty of a piece. The same is true with all works of art. They were made to be seen with the naked eye, not on a computer screen. When it comes to the artifacts displayed in museums such as the Museum of American History, a viewer would have no feeling or sense of size and age if they were to view them through a computer screen. I feel that zoos are probably the only type of museum that could not be affected by on-line exhibits. Sure you could see pictures of the animals and read facts about them but you would not get to watch their individual attitudes or watch them being fed and played with.
Building larger museums will not help to save the personal experience of visiting museums that the internet is attempting to take away. As the museums grow in number and in size, more works of art are shown. This, however, does not solve the problem of over population. The only way to help that problem would be to expand the museum but not add more pieces. Spreading out the existing exhibits would allow more people to view them in a more pleasant atmosphere. It is more important to take care of the pieces of art that the museums have already acquired then to simply want to have the largest number of acquisitions. I also feel that museums should not put their staff’s employment at risk just to expand their buildings. Museums lose much of their appeal if they do not have a proper staff to manage it.

Islamic Art

Islamic art and architecture have impressed historians and onlookers for many centuries. Islamic art does not include human figures because they do not believe in idolatry. By creating patterns, the Muslims stay clear of incorrect symbolism. It is believed that the patterns also show the “unchanging laws of God (Islamic Patterns).” Most Islamic patterns begin with a circle, symbolizing one God. The most prevalent shapes in Islamic art are the circle, square, rectangle, hexagon, and the star. Their ability to create works of art out of repeating simple shapes over and over is a spectacular feat in my mind.

Works Cited:
"Islamic Patterns & Geometry." Salaam. 2004. Salaam. 28 Sep 2007. http://www.salaam.co.uk/themeofthemonth/march02_index.php?l=3.
Works Consulted:
"Patterns & Symbols." Salaam. 2004. Salaam. 28 Sep 2007. http://www.salaam.co.uk/themeofthemonth/march02_index.php?l=3.