This master’s thesis examines the evolving role of museums, which are increasingly shifting from traditional spaces of preservation and presentation into active participants in the construction of social discourse. Central to this investigation is the curatorial practice of interpolation – a method of inserting new interpretive layers into existing exhibition displays to provoke critical reflection and dialogue among visitors.
The research traces the historical development of museums, analyses exhibitions as communicative mediums, and explores current museological approaches. It is grounded in a poststructuralist theoretical framework, drawing particularly on the works of Michel Foucault, Roland Barthes, and Jacques Derrida, to interrogate issues of interpretation, authorship, and meaning within curatorial practice.
The thesis identifies both the transformative potential and the inherent challenges of interpolation. While it can enrich the visitor experience and foster multifaceted readings of cultural artifacts, it also risks imposing predetermined narratives or reducing heritage to spectacle. Emphasis is placed on the ethical responsibility of curators to navigate these tensions – preserving the authenticity of cultural heritage while opening up space for new interpretations.
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