Museums have long been regarded as keepers of history and culture, but a new book suggests that they could also serve as lifeboats in the face of societal collapse. In his work titled Museums and Societal Collapse: The Museum as Lifeboat, author Robert R. Janes explores the role that museums can play in addressing the threats of climate trauma, corporate deceit, and political incompetence.
Janes argues that society is currently facing a range of stressors that could lead to its collapse. These stressors include unsustainable economic growth, violence, dispossession, and political and corporate deceit. He believes that governments worldwide are failing to respond adequately to these issues, exacerbating the risk of societal collapse.
In examining these threats, Janes points out that museums occupy a unique space within society that remains largely unexplored. He suggests that museums have the potential to demonstrate that no single group or ideology possesses the sole truth about how society should conduct itself. Instead, they can showcase the importance of diverse interests, aspirations, and plans in creating a healthy society.
Janes also presents the ethical obligations that museums can embody and pursue. These include being open to external influence and impact, responding to citizens’ concerns, and maintaining transparency in their operations. By fulfilling these obligations, museums can provide a means of intellectual self-defense to resist the status quo and question societal governance.
While Janes acknowledges the grim reality of societal collapse, he insists that hope is still crucial in finding solutions. As the founder of the Coalition of Museums for Climate Justice, he urges readers – whether museum practitioners or not – to confront the threats facing the global community and consider the roles they can play in combating collapse.
According to Janes, the intensification of global climate trauma is casting a shadow of collapse over the world. However, he believes that each individual has something valuable to offer and that no single approach is correct. While we may not be able to stop global warming entirely, we can confront the threat of collapse through collective action.
In summary, Museums and Societal Collapse: The Museum as Lifeboat presents an urgent appeal for society to recognize the threats it faces and the potential role of museums in navigating these challenges. By embracing diversity of thought and fulfilling ethical obligations, museums can contribute to the quest for a sustainable future. While the book paints a somber picture, it emphasizes the importance of hope and collective action in addressing the indicators of collapse.
