Duncan - The Art Museum as a Ritual

This reading brings up a few interesting points about museums themselves.  Museums, as we know them today, are relatively new compared to some of the art that they house.  Art was typically, in the past, housed in the homes of the upper-class, or in religious buildings.  It is interesting to note how a large number of famous museums tend to either look like religious buildings, or the homes of extremely wealthy people.

This all adds to the "ritual" of going to a museum.  The entrance into a grand building, looking at perfectly preserved works of art that may be hundreds of years old.  Everyone in the building also remains relatively quiet because of both the set of "rules" that one follows in a museum, and because of the aura of the magnificent art that is on display.

Going to a museum is most certainly an experience, and much like going to a concert is much more impressive than listening to a recording, going to the museum is much more impressive than looking at pictures of art online.