the discursive museum

During a symposium held at the MAK in Vienna, a number of well- known philosophers, theorists and artists addressed the question of whether the museum can be viewed as a conceptual structure capable of liberating itself from visual and imaginary contents. The participants undertook a critical examination of both collection and exhibition concepts as well as forms of presentation oriented toward the market and its criteria for success. They focused specifically on the entertainment institution, whose product - 'art light' - is designed and presented in keeping with all of the rules of the market economy. The trend toward global museum mergers and large-scale exhibitions shows that quantity has become the determining factor with respect to both supply and demand. The only answer to this development is commitment to a daring curatorial policy dedicated solely to concentration, to the cultural heritage. This creates a setting whose contents are accessible only within a critical aesthetic context. The authors' statements reprinted here represent a variety of disciplines and a wide range of opinions on the subject in question. They also point the way to possible future forms of the museum. (German edition available ISBN 3-7757-1139-2)