Politics

The majority of interviewees denied that politics influences the exhibits at their museums, interpreting the author’s query more narrowly than she anticipated. The full discussions, however, reveal various intersections with politics. The author contends that from a broader perspective, politics is pervasive, stemming from the centrality of funding. The outsized role of temporary and traveling exhibits is clearly associated with the need for revenue; focus on these exhibits detracts from the “permanent” ones. The controversy over the starring role of “Lucy,” the famous Au. afarensis fossil skeleton, in the Ethiopian Treasures exhibit in Houston and the limited access to high-quality fossil casts serve as further supporting evidence that politics does in fact have significant and lasting effects. Beyond human evolution, a subsidiary theme of the book, how museums address climate change, is a prominent part of this chapter. Additional topics include visitor desire for “real” specimens and the crucial role of narrative for engagement.