Teaching Literary and Filmic Narrative Strategies for West Coast Public History Museum Exhibitions

FAIN: HB-288831-23

Lisa Manter
St. Mary's College of California (Moraga, CA 94575-2715)

Research and analysis of materials to be incorporated into a public history course focused on understanding narrative strategies employed in museum exhibits. 

I will be conducting a study of the intersection between literary and film studies, museum interpretation and design, and public history to improve my course Public History and the Power of Storytelling. The initial work of the project will be to visit ten to twelve historical exhibitions at West Coast museums to observe how these exhibitions are currently using narrative elements to present their historical objects and materials. After gathering this observational data, I will analyze how the exhibitions have crafted their historical narratives, how various storytelling elements have been deployed, how attempts to craft historical material into a coherent story has shaped displayed content, and then consider what other narrative methods and frameworks might be employed to strengthen the appeal of these exhibitions for visitors. Gathered data, analysis, and findings will be used to support and enhance my course, which is part of a new Public History Minor at Saint Mary’s College.