Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Διαχείριση Μνημείων: Αρχαιολογία, Πόλη και ΑρχιτεκτονικήLibrary of the School of Philosophy
Author:
Theodorou Eleftheria
Supervisors info:
Δημήτρης Πλάντζος, Αναπληρωτής καθηγητής Κλασικής Αρχαιολογίας, Τμήμα Ιστορίας & Αρχαιολογίας, Εθνικό και Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών.
Δέσποινα Καταπότη, Επίκουρη καθηγήτρια Πολιτισμικής Θεωρίας και Ψηφιακού Πολιτισμού, Τμήμα Πολιτισμικής Τεχνολογίας και Επικοινωνίας, Πανεπιστήμιο Αιγαίου.
Παναγιώτης Μαστραντώνης, Δρ Πανεπιστημίου Αιγαίου, Τμήμα Πολιτιστικής Τεχνολογίας και Επικοινωνίας
Original Title:
Πρόσληψη και Διαχείριση του μύθου σε μουσειακό περιβάλλον. Μελέτη Περίπτωσης: το νέο μουσείο της Αργούς στο Βόλο.
Translated title:
Reception and Management of myth in a museum environment. Case Study: The new meseum of Argo in Volos
Summary:
The subject of this thesis refers to the myth and its ability to create identities that are, of course, invented and used as an interpretive tool of the past. In the city of Volos, traditionally linked to the ancient Iolkos, the myth of the Argonauts is displayed and imprinted on the collective memory of its citizens with every given opportunity. After the re-construction of a replica of Argo (ship) and a remake of parts of its journey according to the myth, the idea of creating a lieu de memoir in order to fill the gap between the present and the past of the myth emerged. The construction of a museum wants to promote the project of recreating both the ship and the journey and aims to a further touristic and financial exploitation.
The decision of building a museum dedicated to Argo is the aftermath of systematic procedures, aimed to the integration of the Argonauts’ myth to the cultural memory of the city. Connotations referring to this myth are dispersed throughout the urban environment and they are expanding form public sculptures, streets and local associations’ names culminating with the most performative reference to the myth of the Argonauts: the remake of the journey carried out by reconstructing the mythic ship. This act carries the purpose to be embedded to the collective memory of the citizens. The city of Volos holds a significant cultural assemblage by encompassing both ancient and contemporary tangible culture. Nonetheless, local authorities and associations are choosing to invest on the intangible heritage of myth, as a form of the city’s branding. This is not necessarily problematic; however it is different when this branded intangible heritage functions as a founding narrative of the city.
The commercialization of the myth’s cultural heritage is leading to two main issues. The role of a stakeholder or a cultural manager, and the way in which potential audience is being addressed. The thesis wants to highlight the effects that the myth has on the creation of a collective identity by cultivating the idea of co-belonging among the residents of a local community. In other words, the commercialization of a past that is ultimately transformed to an identity.
Main subject category:
Archaeology
Keywords:
Archaeology, cultural management, myth, mythomoteur, reception studies
Number of references:
108
