Representing culture

I'm currently at a museum with no collection. We don't have artifacts, we don't have objects. But, I'm running into major issues with cultural representation.

How do you represent a culture honestly, without inadvertently reinforcing stereotypes? In the cultural area, there is a space dedicated to a depiction of an African child's room. I'm adamant that we make sure this space is defined as a country. However, choices have been made that are directing my selection of a country to focus on.

Do I: Theme the room based on the existing outside architecture, and inadvertently reinforce the idea that everyone in Africa lives in abject poverty? Or do I ignore the external architecture and choose a more middle class style room, and fail to be true to the diversity of the continent?

I'm honestly unsure. When I was in Indy, in the Egypt gallery, we had an urban and a rural bedroom. I often overheard "look at the poverty" from our upper middle class visitors. How do we get across the dual ideas that yes, these countries do not have as much as we do, but that doesn't mean that their lifestyle is poor. In fact, what I see is that I could really be happy with less. Seeing these spaces doesn't make me sad for them, it makes me sad for the US and our rampant consumerism.

But back to Africa.

What do you all think? Does a thatched roof drive the choice toward a rural/tribal home? Because that means the bed will be nothing more than sheets on the floor. Or should I settle on Kenya and "average" the interior decor? I'm leaning to the latter, but am concerned. I'm going to have to dig my heels in and get some cultural voices in on the conversation. Because as much as I need to move quickly, I also need to make sure this is done right.

Anyone have advice?

New beginnings

Thank you to everyone for your kind wishes! We're nearly settled here in Tampa.

I'm now settling in at the soon to open children's museum here. I spent my first two weeks working at a temporary station in the business offices - a lovely space that was donated to the museum - and then got to move again! On Thursday, we moved into our brand spanking new building.

My mind is currently spinning with the challenge of creating an education department from scratch. Its wonderful and horrible, all at the same time.

In other news, I graduate in 2 weeks! FINALLY! I'm looking forward to free evenings, time to blog, and time to spend with my family.

I promise to have a decent blog post again soon. Hello to new readers. I hope I give you something decent soon.

S

Ch ch ch changes....

Well, its official. After 9 years at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, I am moving on. In about 3 weeks, my partner and I are packing up the car and moving to Tampa Bay, where I'll be the director of education and programming. WHEE!

I'm terrified and excited, both about the move and the job. But, its like I've got new eyes. Where 3 months ago I was looking almost solely at exhibits, now I can think programming again. I'm talking to amazing people about their programs, and about children's museums as civic and community centers.

Many changes ahead, many challenges, but I'm SO excited!

Social media and accessibility

Last week, Google rolled out auto-captioning for YouTube videos. Now, if you are like me, most of your YouTube use is spent watching OK Go videos, laughing babies, or other viral wonders. But thanks to a new focus on social media at the museum, we are now posting some fun videos of our own. So, when I heard this story on NPR, I immediately went to see how our videos faired.

Needless to say, the auto captioning is not perfect. Far from it. In fact, its hilarious in some parts.

BUT - thanks to the auto-caption, I was able to quickly and effortlessly edit the file in wordpad and set it back up. So easy! The trouble with captions is not transcription. Yes, that takes some time, but not that much. Its getting the words on the video! Without proper software, this can seem daunting, especially to those of us with great intentions and zero skill. But YouTube is doing it for us!

As the partner of someone who has some hearing loss, I usually watch movies with captions on. I now find that it helps me follow the film, especially when actors have low voices, or the sound editing preferences the explosions over the dialogue. Hearing impairment doesn't mean deaf - but it encompasses the range of hearing issues - from constant tinnitis (which can make listening difficult) to acute problems like colds!

Captioning your social media videos is vital! Most museums don't have a film crew doing these clips. Its usually us and a flip camera, or maybe a phone. Its rough. So the sound is not so great. Captioning can help your audience really get your messages.

Captioning also helps with language. At the same time as this auto-captioning, YouTube also offers auto translation of captions! If your captions are up to snuff, the translation software (way better than the Altavista Babelfish of days gone by) will translate it into one of over 50 launguages. That is huge.

So, take a few minutes, look at your videos, and tweak your captions. You'll be surprised at what good it may do. And if you still don't believe that its important, check this thank you video from the California School for the Deaf in Fremont.

The light at the end of the tunnel...

...is an oncoming train. That's how that goes, right?

So, drum roll...I'm in my last semester of school. Finally. And with this final semester comes some soul searching, and some realizations about what I want from my professional life.

I'm going to commit to blogging at least once a month for the remainder of the semester. Probably some things about my time in school - what I've learned, what was a waste, what I wish the profs knew - and some things that just pop into my head.

Thanks to the few of you who follow this blog, and who comment. You have no idea how giddy it makes me to know that you actually look at this and care enough to comment!

Welcome back to KoS. I promise, its gonna get better. :)