Narrative framing

Definition

Narrative framing is the way stories are structured and presented to convey particular meanings or interpretations. It involves selecting certain details and perspectives that shape how audiences perceive and understand an artifact or event, influencing their emotional and intellectual responses. This technique is especially significant in museum curation, where the arrangement and context of classical artifacts can highlight specific themes or messages.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Narrative framing helps guide visitors' perceptions by emphasizing certain aspects of artifacts while downplaying others.
2. Curators use narrative framing to create engaging stories around classical artifacts that resonate with modern audiences.
3. Different narrative frames can lead to varying interpretations of the same artifact depending on cultural perspectives.
4. The choice of language, imagery, and organization in exhibitions contributes to the effectiveness of narrative framing.
5. Narrative framing can challenge or reinforce existing historical narratives by offering new interpretations based on the presentation of artifacts.

Review Questions

• How does narrative framing influence the visitor's experience in a museum setting?
  • Narrative framing significantly influences a visitor's experience by shaping how they perceive and understand the displayed artifacts. Through careful selection of details and thematic arrangements, curators create stories that resonate with audiences, guiding their emotional and intellectual engagement. This framing can emphasize particular aspects of the artifacts that align with educational goals or cultural narratives, impacting how visitors interpret historical contexts.
• What are some techniques curators might use to enhance narrative framing in exhibitions of classical artifacts?
  • Curators enhance narrative framing through various techniques, such as selecting specific artifacts that illustrate a theme, using descriptive labels that evoke emotional responses, and designing spatial arrangements that guide the viewer's journey. They may also incorporate multimedia elements like videos or interactive displays to enrich storytelling. By creating a cohesive narrative flow, curators aim to draw visitors into a compelling exploration of history and culture.
• Evaluate the implications of narrative framing on historical interpretations within museum exhibitions.
  • Narrative framing plays a critical role in shaping historical interpretations within museum exhibitions by influencing which stories are told and how they are presented. Curators' choices can challenge dominant narratives or reinforce specific viewpoints, impacting public understanding of history. As audiences engage with framed narratives, they may either question established interpretations or accept them as authoritative, highlighting the power dynamics at play in how history is curated and communicated.

Related terms

Curatorial practice: The methods and techniques employed by curators to select, interpret, and display artifacts in a museum setting.

Exhibition design: The process of creating the layout and visual presentation of exhibits, including how artifacts are arranged to tell a story.

Contextualization:

The act of placing an artifact within its historical, cultural, or social context to enhance understanding and interpretation.