Museums Matter: In Praise of the Encyclopedic Museum

In these elegantly composed and provocative essays (which originated as lectures at Rice University), Cuno, CEO of the Getty Trust, takes on postmodern and postcolonial critiques of the encyclopedic museum as instruments of imperialism and state control to argue that, on the contrary, museums such as the Louvre and the British Museum are rooted in the humanistic, cosmopolitan values of the Enlightenment. They are treasure houses of art and artifacts representing cultures from around the world, encouraging viewers from diverse backgrounds to understand varied cultures. For Cuno, the encyclopedic museum is a place for individuals to find the unexpected and understand the context in which it was created. He makes his case persuasively, and in the last chapter deftly counters ideological critiques of these museums as symbols of state and imperial power. As in his previous book, Who Owns Antiquity? Museums and the Battle over Our Ancient Heritage, Cuno views art as our common cultural heritage, to be seen in the context of human values rather than theoretical academic critiques. 4 color and 10 b&w illus. (Dec.)