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Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

museums, family films, museums in films, visitor's perceptions, media influences

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Anthropology

Abstract

In the last decade the number of new museums and museum visitors has increased worldwide (Frey and Meier 2008, 410). Likewise, the instances of museums in family films have also increased. The Internet Movie Database (IMDB) lists 260 films since 1914 that use museums in some form in their plot. More than 140 of those movies were produced in the last 10 years. One concern with the increase in the portrayal of museums in films is the accuracy and connotation of the depictions, as inaccurate portrayals could potentially skew visitors’ perception of museums. This research sought to identify how museums are portrayed in family films in particular, as families are the primary audience of museums, to allow museums to be aware of how mass media influences museum visitors’ perceptions of museums so that museums can combat or reinforce these perceptions. This research is particularly timely as museum budgets have been hard hit over the past few years and museums need to understand how the larger public (including those that do not attend museums) views museums in order to improve advocacy efforts.

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