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Native Fashion and Museums.pdf (4.94 MB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Native Fashion and Museums: How Institutions Use Native Clothing Objects in Their Exhibitions

Malleo, Echo
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1683280820279029

Abstract Details

2023, MA, Kent State University, College of the Arts / School of Art.
Many museums display Native American clothing as part of their exhibitions, yet there are both successes and pitfalls to the way institutions present these garments. One common pitfall is that museums perpetuate the stereotype that Native cultures are stuck in the past by nearly always describing objects in historical contexts. Contemporary fashion is rarely discussed or displayed, except for in exhibitions specifically about Native arts. Some museums, such as the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), use display techniques to create exhibitions that fight stereotypes of Native peoples and highlight issues faced by Native communities. This investigation highlights the importance of display techniques in museums and how they utilize both historical and contemporary Native clothing in the execution of their exhibitions. It showcases the place occupied by Native fashion as a vital component of the American fashion identity. This thesis analyzes exhibitions from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, IAIA, and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. Clothing is a useful object for studying in museums because they are some of the most accessible art forms and touchstones; nearly everyone wears some form of clothing or body adornment. Therefore, this thesis investigates U.S. exhibitions of historical and contemporary Native fashions to demonstrate how museums can honor Native peoples in their representations
Shana Klein (Advisor)
83 p.
Art History; Museum Studies
Native fashion; Native clothing; Native arts; Museum display; Fashion museums

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Malleo, E. (2023). Native Fashion and Museums: How Institutions Use Native Clothing Objects in Their Exhibitions [Master's thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1683280820279029

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Malleo, Echo. Native Fashion and Museums: How Institutions Use Native Clothing Objects in Their Exhibitions. 2023. Kent State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1683280820279029.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Malleo, Echo. "Native Fashion and Museums: How Institutions Use Native Clothing Objects in Their Exhibitions." Master's thesis, Kent State University, 2023. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1683280820279029

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

kent1683280820279029
274
© 2023, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.