A study of the notions of immersive experience in museum based exhibitions
- Publication Type:
- Thesis
- Issue Date:
- 2006
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The thesis explores the notions of immersive experience in museum exhibitions, and
examines whether the communication of the exhibition content can be transmitted
more effectively to visitors through the creation of an immersive environment.
The study reviews the origins and changing interpretations of the term 'immersive
experience', and draws upon the work of researchers including Heim (1998) and
Bitgood (1990) to examine immersive experience in the context of museum
exhibitions. The role of narrative in enhancing immersive experience in exhibitions is
explored through the work of researchers including Hooper-Greenhill (2000) and the
ideas of Joseph Campbell on myth, story telling, and the concept of 'hero'. Theories
of effective communication and learning in the museum context are examined, as well
as formal strategies that can be undertaken by museums to inform and facilitate
communication and learning for the experience of the visitor.
The author employs the methodology of 'participant observation', using her
experience as Senior Designer at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney to reflect on the
aspects of multi-sensory stimulation required for the communication process in an
exhibition, and on what is achieved by the implementation of new technology into
museum exhibition spaces. A number of exhibitions designed at the Powerhouse
Museum by the author are used as case studies.
The major outcome of the study is a theoretical framework on immersive experience
that may be applied by museum designers and curators to enhance communication
experience for visitors to exhibitions, or may be used by educators to enhance
learning experiences for groups who use museums as learning environments.
The thesis concludes with some ideas for further research in the area of immersive
experience in the museum, including the development of a methodology for
evaluating the effectiveness of immersive experiences created by museum designers.
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