Museum of Fine Arts, Boston: Curatorial Field Guide ‘zine

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what c an I l earn a bout t his?

3. Research

With a hunch that there’s a story to be told from this object, a curator does research to build a story. There are many different stories, and many different types of research and critical lenses through which to look at art, including formal, historical, biographical, political, and more. Key Skills — Primary & secondary research — Research analysis — Using different critical lenses

Some e xample s of critical lense s Historical: What was the context when this piece was made? What larger stories is it a part of? Biographical: How does information about the artist’s life affect the piece? Political: How does the piece relate to politics and power?

Keep In Mind! All exhibits should tell a story or make an argument. Research is how this point of view is constructed and presented.


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