Defining the Modern Museum: A Case Study of the Challenges of Exchange

Defining the Modern Museum is a fascinating exploration of the museum as a cultural institution. Emphasizing museums' relationship to schools, libraries, and government agencies, this interdisciplinary study challenges long-standing assumptions about museums – revealing their messy, uncertain origins, and belying the standard narrative of their educational purpose having been corrupted by corporate goals.

Using theoretical models and extensive archival research, Lianne McTavish examines the ...