http://okapi.wordpress.com/2008/02/15/okapi-island-spring-2008-thoughts-to-start-off-with/ People, Tools and Ideas for Sharing Information and Constructing Knowledge Sun, 06 Jul 2008 23:25:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU http://okapi.wordpress.com/2008/02/15/okapi-island-spring-2008-thoughts-to-start-off-with/#comment-528 antably Sun, 02 Mar 2008 17:24:09 +0000 http://okapi.wordpress.com/?p=319#comment-528 Historically, museums used to exhibit ‘unique’ artifacts. These artifacts are prearranged to construct a narrative. They are ‘original’ artwork and hence enjoy a certain ‘aura’ (to use Walter Benjamin’s words). It seems like new media is reinventing – or maybe abolishing – the museum. I am puzzled by the role of the museum in OKAPI Island. A museum curator’s dream is to exhibit his artifacts in their original contexts; in the way they were originally meant to be perceived. Ironically, the museum is located on the same island where a complete reconstruction of Catalhuyuk is offered. Why would anyone exhibit Catalhuyuk artifacts in a museum? From an architectural point of view, the museum’s design offers only two halls and one entrance located at the first hall. The second hall can only be accessed through the first hall and hence a strict order is enforced. This is a typical modernist, single narrative, design. Clearly, it contradicts wth the democratic premises of cyberspace held so dearly by new media positivists. It is also a very conventional design considering the visitors unconventional abilities in Secondlife. The artifacts are flat video screens hung on walls. That is the part that I find most intriguing. Secondlife is one of many three-dimensional massive multi-user virtual environments that promise to liberate the Internet from its page metaphor. Yet, in the museum, there is a retreat – at least from a positivist's point of view – to ‘older’ forms of media. I can only think of three solutions to this museum. The first is to completely abolish it under the alleged reason that Catalhuyuk virtual reconstruction renders the role of the museum obsolete. The second solution is to offer a design that parodies conventional museums. Post modern architecture offers many precedents to this solution where Charles Moore’s Piazza d’Italia in New Orleans is the most present in my mind now. I am thinking of creating a fake but pretentious aura for a meaningless artifact. The third venue is to move the museum to a website; maybe the Mixing Catalhuyuk website. Historically, museums used to exhibit ‘unique’ artifacts. These artifacts are prearranged to construct a narrative. They are ‘original’ artwork and hence enjoy a certain ‘aura’ (to use Walter Benjamin’s words). It seems like new media is reinventing – or maybe abolishing – the museum.
I am puzzled by the role of the museum in OKAPI Island. A museum curator’s dream is to exhibit his artifacts in their original contexts; in the way they were originally meant to be perceived. Ironically, the museum is located on the same island where a complete reconstruction of Catalhuyuk is offered. Why would anyone exhibit Catalhuyuk artifacts in a museum?
From an architectural point of view, the museum’s design offers only two halls and one entrance located at the first hall. The second hall can only be accessed through the first hall and hence a strict order is enforced. This is a typical modernist, single narrative, design. Clearly, it contradicts wth the democratic premises of cyberspace held so dearly by new media positivists. It is also a very conventional design considering the visitors unconventional abilities in Secondlife.
The artifacts are flat video screens hung on walls. That is the part that I find most intriguing. Secondlife is one of many three-dimensional massive multi-user virtual environments that promise to liberate the Internet from its page metaphor. Yet, in the museum, there is a retreat – at least from a positivist’s point of view – to ‘older’ forms of media.
I can only think of three solutions to this museum. The first is to completely abolish it under the alleged reason that Catalhuyuk virtual reconstruction renders the role of the museum obsolete. The second solution is to offer a design that parodies conventional museums. Post modern architecture offers many precedents to this solution where Charles Moore’s Piazza d’Italia in New Orleans is the most present in my mind now. I am thinking of creating a fake but pretentious aura for a meaningless artifact. The third venue is to move the museum to a website; maybe the Mixing Catalhuyuk website.

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