博物館之社會化功能初探

Socialization through Museum Experience Abstract

于瑞珍

《科技博物》 4卷4期 (2000/07) Pp. 20-29

https://doi.org/10.6432/TMR.200007.0020

並列摘要

Socialization is a continuous process by which the individual learns social roles and values in order to be an accepted member of his/her society. Many researches discussed about how the individual to be changed in the socialization agents, such as the family, the school, the peer group, and mass media. Fundamentally, the socialization agents have two missions: to transmit culture to the younger generation, and to provide opportunities for social interactions. Museums presented and interpreted culture, and provided unique environments for social interactions could be considered as a socialization agent. However, few studies paid attention to the roles museums can play in the process of socialization.
Museums as cultural institutions
The influence of globalization brought a need for developing effective intercultural understanding for our children. Museums are totally qualified to take on this role. In order to fulfill the need, there are many things museums could do. Museums could play an active role to preserve and conserve the cultures including the one vanishing from the society. Museums could present diverse cultures to let our children know better about languages, lives, values, and thinking of other peoples. Also, museums could help community to develop a sense of identity to bring harmony to the area where they are located.
Museums as social institutions
According to Morris (1962), museum visits must occur as a social activity and visitors can only appreciate the content of museums through sharing the experience with others. Many visitors view museum visiting as a social occasion or leisure activity. They don't expect to be asked how much they have learned during their visits, but look for chances to interact with families or friends. Providing participatory exhibits allowed more than one person to operate at the same time, and applying social plays into the programs or events are two examples to increase the opportunities for social interactions.
As a socialization agent, museums need more information about how to assist visitors in their socio-cultural learning process.
There is an increasing need for museums to adopt to the social trends and functions. Therefore, the curators in the museums need to pay more attention to the research in this fields.