Markisha S. (Ass. #1)

Visiting the museums was a great experience. I was excited to take advantage of the many attractions in the metro area. First, I visited the National Museum of African Art. This museum, located in DC, is a cultural institution which introduces and recognizes African art. The exhibits in the museum portrayed African art to introduce and explain the African way of life. Before entering the museum, I assumed that the museum would be full of different types of African patterns and art which displays African traditions and beliefs because an art museum should show appreciation for all African art, hence the name. As I visited the different exhibits, my assumptions seemed to be somewhat correct. One exhibit called Body of Evidence showed how Africans used their bodies in a symbolic way to create meaning. Numerous artists were highlighted along with their works of art. I was surprised to see that the paintings also reflected African history. It amazes me to see how one picture can explain so much. The question as to whether or not this museum should be considered feminist or not doesn’t apply because the exhibits in the museum did not show any crediting towards women. The purpose of these exhibits was to learn about the history and traditions of Africans through art.
The next stop was the National Museum of the American Indian. This museum is a cultural institution which explains the lives and traditions of Native Americans. I assumed that a museum of the American Indian would include Native American traditional pieces along with speakers to discuss the cultural influences America has had on their heritage. One exhibit called Identity by Design featured dresses designed by Native American women. This exhibit displayed the designs made by Native American women which served as a form of identity and told stories of the women’s lives. The designs on the dresses show what tribe a woman may belong to, it was a way to provide for the family, and it was also worn for ceremonies. I would say that this particular museum is definitely a feminist museum because it greatly credits women for their contributions amongst American Indians. The dresses in the exhibit credited women as it explained that these dresses made by the women served as ways for them to make a living. So, I can infer that women were the providers of the household.
Then, I visited the Holocaust Museum, which told visitors all about the horrors of the Holocaust. All of the exhibits showed the Holocaust from different aspects. I assumed that the museum would have many exhibits showing what the Jews encountered during the Holocaust. I also assumed that the museum would show the places where the Jews hid such as the secret crawl spots. In one exhibit called Remember the Children: Daniel’s Story, the story of the Holocaust was told in a way in which children could understand. This exhibit showed Daniel’s room and some of the letters he wrote while hiding from the Nazis. He told of his experiences of his life while hiding out by writing short journal entries about some of the things he witnessed. I was shocked to see that the museum had become so in depth with the topic by using a room and the actual letters.
Finally, I visited the National Museum of Women and the Arts. This museum is an institution which highlights the arts of women and their contributions to society. The exhibits in this museum are those paintings which represent the everyday struggles and happenings of life. I went to explore the permanent collection of the sixteenth through twentieth centuries. I assumed that this museum would be smaller since women aren’t given enough credit in society and that it would be a museum which uplifts women. The exhibits showed Europe’s previous laws which prevented women from gaining any kind of recognition for art. During the sixteenth through eighteenth centuries, women weren’t fully prohibited to express themselves through art but there were some restrictions which led into the twentieth century, the age of the “new woman”. My assumptions were shocking because I had expected the museum to show the great contributions of women to society, not show how they were treated unfairly by society. I thought that the purpose of this museum was to uplift women and show how they have changed society. This museum is feminist because it is based on the struggles that woman have had in an attempt to be recognized by society. Feminism involves recognizing the need for equal rights for women and this museum shows how far women have come in society.
I am glad to have had the opportunity to visit the museums. I learned so many new things about different cultures. I was amazed at how one picture in the museum of African Art can explain so much from the African heritage to African history. I was shocked to learn that the women in the Native American culture were providers of the family. I had assumed that the men were the only providers of the family because women were rarely recognized. I also had a chance to learn more about the Holocaust. The museum included exhibits in which the horrors of the Holocaust were explained but I was shocked to see how involved the museum was in the topic. There was an exhibit which told about the Holocaust from a Jew’s perspective. Finally, I learned how much women have contributed in society and how they are not credited enough. This experience has taught me to refrain from making generalized assumptions about a particular subject or culture but to find out the truth because it may be shocking.







Assumptions
1. I assumed that feminism was all about fighting for equal rights for women.
2. I assumed that feminism was solely used to credit and uplift women because they are often overlooked by society.
3. I didn’t know that a feminist museum didn’t always focus on giving credit to women.
4. I didn’t know that one picture of art could give an explanation of history about a culture. I was surprised to see that Africans were able to draw one picture and from it, visitors can learn about the history of the African culture.
5. I assumed that the African museum would be full of different types of African patterns and colors.
6. I also assumed that a museum’s purpose in general was to give a brief and somewhat detailed explanation of the topic at hand. I was completely wrong when I saw how in depth the museums became with the topic.