Representation of Science and Technology in Contemporary History Museums

• In Event: Science in the Public Sphere: Representation, Mediation, Interpretation

Abstract

This paper aims to indicate that although the introspection on temporality and locality has led to the creation of contemporary history museums, that introspection has not spread well to the representation of science and technology. To this end, three examples of contemporary history museums are analyzed herein – House of the History of the Federal Republic of Germany, the recently-opened House of Austrian History, and the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History - to compare how science and technology have been represented.
Contemporary history museums began emerging in the 1990s. While there was significant debate around foundation of the museums – over whether there was even a need for a contemporary history museum, what to exhibit, who would decide on the exhibits and through what process, etc. – science and technology have been represented in a monotonous way. In spite of these diverse debates, today’s contemporary history museums have agreed to aim at public history. In other words, they have adopted the view that history must be taught from the eye of the public: Exhibits must not be about a few notables but look at the stories of the public.
In today’s contemporary history museums, however, science and technology has only focused on achievements in terms of national developmentalism, positioning itself as simply a means for economic development rather than as actors that dynamically interact with society. The author seeks solutions as to how contemporary history museums, products of much introspection, can embrace past academic achievements of the STS in representing scientific technology.

Author

• Jung-Ok Ha, National Museum of Korean Contemporary History