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SUMMARY:Tell me the story of this artefact: democratising interpretation p
 rocesses through innovative museum displays - Paola di Giuseppantonio di F
 ranco (McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research)
DTSTART:20150609T170000Z
DTEND:20150609T180000Z
UID:TALK59308@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:20337
DESCRIPTION:Today we are used to “conceiving and presenting objects as a
 lways incomplete\, even useless\, without the (textual) provision of assoc
 iated data and interpretations” (H. Dudley)\, and this underestimates th
 e possibilities inherent in objects’ material\, sensorially perceptible 
 characteristics (i.e.\, affordances) for understanding the meaning and fun
 ction of objects in the past. Following this argument\, in this paper I at
 tempt to show that virtual or real interactions with copies of original ar
 tefacts can augment museum experiences because 3D digital or printed repli
 cas allow museum visitors to form an intimate relationship with museum obj
 ects\, including objects they are not allowed to physically manipulate. Th
 is study builds on the results of recent surveys aimed at exploring how pe
 ople perceive ancient artifacts presented through different media (visual 
 examination of original objects\, interaction with 3D digital replicas\, t
 actile experience with 3D prints). The results of this research suggest th
 at traditional museum practices\, which see textual or similar provisions 
 as necessary a priori for a valuable learning experience in a museum\, can
  be modified\, so that the physical experience with artefacts becomes inti
 mate a priori. Further\, virtual and/or tactile manipulation of artefacts
 ’ replicas allows museum visitors to freely create their own narratives 
 of the past. As a result\, museum visitors become more intrigued with the 
 stories of museum objects and more critically engaged with expert interpre
 tations proposed a posteriori. I end this paper by offering ideas on alter
 native exhibition practices that integrate traditional museum settings and
  3D replicas to enhance museum experiences. 
LOCATION:Skillicorn Room\, Homerton College
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