Night at the Museum

I study Political Science. Themes of domestic political choices/policies were present throughout many of the artworks, even if not explicitly: the westward expansions, the incorporation of slavery’s existence into Constitutional population considerations, the legal acceptance of unfair or coerced contracts with indigenous leaders over territory, and so on. It seems that the works in the American exhibit lie on the palimpsest of choices made by institutions of political power, especially on the national level. I noticed that I could connect almost every piece of art to a socioeconomic situation or political status brought upon by the laws and status quo at the time. My specific field of study is policy. This exhibit was a case study in how those policies translate and proliferate into social expression. It is also indicative, however, that policy has the power to institutionalize equity just as it has historically institutionalized power-struggle.

Something that I would add to this museum is a sort of interactive experience that allows tourists to participate in a fun activity that tells about the history of the Brooklyn museum itself and maybe some important artworks of New York that were influential to the modern day city.

In the past, I’ve always been hesitant to really indulge in a museum experience. However, with macaulay and this trip to the brooklyn museum, I’ve found a new found part for analyzing art and the many different cultures behind it. I’ve even struck up a few random conversations with people I’ve never met before, some who were even staff of macaulay and the museum place. There is so much meaning and things to find exploring art, and coming to this museum has showed that to me.

When I think of museums, I often think of the dominant narratives. I think about the stories that have yet to be told, about the identities that haven’t been captured. When walking by the Kehinde Wiley exhibition, I noticed that Black faces and Black stories are captured. For instance, I analyzed a sculpture that represented 3 black women for which their hair is intertwined and bounded to each other. Their faces are represented as well! This is surprising and certainly shows me that museums are making efforts to highlight more cultures and values accurately. Growing up, I would only learn about American history and that definition was wrapped around the white dominant narrative. This museum showed me that there has been an effort to communicate our beautiful stories because we are also apart of its history. For that reason, I certainly would recommend other Macaulay students to start visiting museums again!

This experience confirmed what I assumed about museums in how there are many different pieces of art that represent many cultures and historical time periods. For example, I was intrigued by the caskets and mummification process in the later sections of the museum, as well as the monoliths and statues towards the end of the BCE era. I would encourage other macaulay students to experience this museum because there’s a lot of fascinating exhibits to perceive.