“物”的叙事性:基于ICOM博物馆新旧定义比较的分析

The Narrativity of the Object: A Comparative Analysis of the Old and New Definitions of the Museum by ICOM

国际博物馆协会(ICOM)通过的博物馆新定义是对新时代博物馆自身发展所经历的变化和面临的挑战的反应。对新旧定义内容结构的比较,以及中国学者的新定义提案和ICOM新定义的比较,不仅有助于认识中国博物馆的发展目标、工作方式和国际同行的差异,一窥博物馆面临的新环境和新挑战,更可以对博物馆“物”的叙事性加以重新认识。“物”不仅具有景观性,也具有叙事性。“物”的叙事性意味着“物”作为历史的元素之一,时刻提醒研究者不断发现、深入研究材料;“物”的叙事性决定了博物馆展览的叙事性,表明它有着不同的叙事主体,尽可能地呈现多元主体有利于完善“物”背后的历史和文化全景。从叙事的角度理解博物馆的工作和展览,才能使博物馆成为观点和思想的汇集和讨论之地,促使观众对博物馆进行反思。

The new definition of the museum by the International Council of Museums(ICOM) is a response to the changes and challenges museums are experiencing in a new era. Comparing the old with the new definitions and the definition proposed by Chinese scholars with ICOM’s help differentiating the developmental goal and working methods of Chinese museums from that of the foreign ones, examine the new environment and new challenges of museums, and recognize the narrativity of museum’s objects. Objects are not only landscapes but also narratives. The narrativity of objects means that objects, as historical elements, are a constant reminder for researchers to discover and study materials in depth;they determine the narrativity of museum exhibitions;they also indicate that they have different narrative subjects, that presenting as many subjects as possible contributes to displaying the whole historical and cultural picture behind the objects. Understanding museum work and exhibitions from a narrative perspective makes museums a plaza for exchanging ideas and thoughts, inspiringthe visitors’ thoughts on museums.