{"product_id":"extinct-monsters-to-deep-time-diana-e-marsh-9781800732018","title":"Extinct Monsters to Deep Time: Conflict, Compromise, and the Making of Smithsonian's Fossil Halls","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eVia the Smithsonian Institution, an exploration of the growing friction between the research and outreach functions of museums in the 21st century.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e Describing participant observation and historical research at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History as it prepared for its largest-ever exhibit renovation, \u003cem\u003e Deep Time\u003c\/em\u003e, the author provides a grounded perspective on the inner-workings of the world's largest natural history museum and the social processes of communicating science to the public.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eFrom the introduction: \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eIn exhibit projects, the tension plays out between curatorial staff-academic, research, or scientific staff charged with content-and exhibitions, public engagement, or educational staff-which I broadly group together as \"audience advocates\" charged with translating content for a broader public. I have heard Kirk Johnson, Sant Director of the NMNH, say many times that if you look at dinosaur halls at different museums across the country, you can see whether the curators or the exhibits staff has \"won.\" At the American Museum of Natural History in New York, it was the curators. The hall is stark white and organized by phylogeny-or the evolutionary relationships of species-with simple, albeit long, text panels. At the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, Johnson will tell you, it was the \"exhibits people.\" The hall is story driven and chronologically organized, full of big graphic prints, bold fonts, immersive and interactive spaces, and touchscreens. At the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, where Johnson had previously been vice president and chief curator, \"we actually fought to a draw.\" That, he says, is the best outcome; a win on either side skews the final product too extremely in one direction or the other. This creative tension, when based on mutual respect, is often what makes good exhibitions.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Diana E. Marsh\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1800732015\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781800732018\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Berghahn Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 09\/13\/2022\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 334\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.99lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.70d","brand":"Diana E. Marsh","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":44077508493567,"sku":"9781800732018","price":24.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_188dafa2-bc41-4ecf-bc82-8ee0bef89d59.jpg?v=1685470355","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/extinct-monsters-to-deep-time-diana-e-marsh-9781800732018","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}