After visiting the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia and exploring the archeological location of Pompeii, it became clearer that curated experience often focus on specific attitudes and practices of ancient cultures through displayed artifacts while being on an archaeological site gives a broader vision of ancient life and culture.
The National Etruscan Museum had vast amounts of funerary artifacts that displayed not only the practices that were carried out for funerals but also broader attitudes towards the importance of the after life or even relationships through the sarcophagus seen here. Seeing specific artifacts, how they were used, and the historical/cultural context in which they were used can allow one to develop a better understanding of intricate ancient cultures and their practices, though, like any interpretation of ancient ideas, may be misconstrued by a modern perspective.
On the other hand, Pompeii, being less of a curated space and more of an on-site archeological experience, contained many artifacts “collected” essentially as they would have been found in the ancient city. The buildings, fountains, graffiti, even the street itself, all acted to construct a general view of what daily life might have looked like for the lives of Pompeiians of varying classes. Rather than mainly focusing on specific attitudes and practices, this on-site experience allows one to get an understanding of how ancient Pompeii actually operated. It also gives an overview of various cultural aspects of the city, whether that be religion through various temples, entertainment through the baths/art/stadium, or even food culture with the bakery and granary.
Both curated and on-site experiences have the potential to give powerful knowledge but each distributes their information /knowledge in a different way.
Ryan,
ReplyDeleteI agree that both environments can have powerful potential to educate visitors in completely unique ways. With that said, there really is something special about being physically there to experience a small piece of life in another era, and putting yourself in the shoes of people who lived there rather than seeing their artifacts behind glass. Being able to interpret things as they were rather than how they were arranged to seem. Being able to be part of a more authentic experience was unforgettable that just can't be replicated any other way.