Chapter 12
London past and present
The Museum of London’s multi-faceted presentation of the
city
Cities rely on their historical monuments and past cultural heritage to project their image, and city museums are one means used to achieve this goal. However, the city of the twenty-first century is socially and culturally heterogeneous. How then, can a city museum interact both with the heritage of the past and connect with its present-day multiracial, multilingual population? What are the linguistic tools used to achieve this goal? Using communication theory frameworks and discourse analysis, I will look at the use of exhibition texts at the Museum of London and demonstrate that exhibition texts seek to engage with the public and, in doing so, contribute to reflecting and communicating the city’s many voices.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Curatorial voice and communication frameworks
- 3.The conversational voice: Interacting with the visitor
- 6.A case study: The London, Sugar and Slavery gallery at
Docklands
- 7.Conclusion
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References