The living museum: theory converted in praxis

Abstract: A visit to an archaeological museum often has more in common with a visit to an art collection than with a visit to a learning faculty. The objects on display in the archaeological museum are chosen for their beauty and the aspects of their time period which they can enlighten are often neglected. Hence many museums present their material as mere objects of art instead of as time pieces. When the museums do not interpret their material, the visitor misses out on the opportunity for learning that the museums otherwise represent and a great amount of studies and knowledge goes unused. The objective of this paper is to show how museums can become teaching faculties through the set up of temporary exhibitions. Here a deeper visitor understanding is achieved applying academic research, meaning that theories and interpretations of the museum material should be explained to the visitor. This is done through a case study,using the Ara Pacis museum in Rome. The theory based analysis regards the propagandistic aspect of Augustean golden age imagery, using the altar of Ara Pacis as the example. A such exhibition is meant to function within the framework of the museum and is meant to be temporary, enabling the museum to lore the visitor back, with yet another temporary exhibition, demonstrating a new aspect.