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This post was written by Melissa Pederson, Children's Museum Exhibit Developer.
What do you think of when you hear the phrase "popular culture”? Do you think about your favorite TV shows and movies? Maybe you’re reminded of outrageous fads you and your friends wore in school? The latest ear bug you heard on the radio? This fun stuff has actually been on my mind a lot lately, because I’m part of a team working on a brand new exhibit all about popular culture! It’s called American POP, part of The Galleries For American Arts and Popular Culture, and it's opening June 17!
When I tell my friends about the exhibit they often ask, “Why pop culture? Shouldn’t museum exhibits be a little more…serious?” True—the exhibit is going to be chock full of fun interactives and artifacts including modern and vintage toys, fashion, comics, and memorabilia from music, TV, and film. But just because it’s fun, doesn’t mean it’s not serious or important!
From the moment we’re born, popular culture surrounds us. It encompasses our community’s shared values and behaviors—often expressed through the music we listen to, the things we own, and the stories we watch.
Because popular culture impacts almost every aspect of our lives, it pays to be mindful of how we encounter it in everyday life. Here are some of the things you'll learn about when you and your family come to visit the gallery:
- Where popular culture comes from
- How you're likely to use it
- How it might affect what you value and how you act
- How everyday people influence how popular culture changes over time
And that's not all! In conjunction with the permanent American POP gallery, The Galleries For American Arts and Popular Culture will also feature a new popular culture temporary exhibit—DANCE!—which will dig deep into this particular popular culture theme by encouraging families to try the types of dances we see at home, on the stage, and around the world!
The museum is going to be hopping this summer (no pun intended)! The exhibit team and I hope you can make a trip to see DANCE! and American POP to see some amazing artifacts, try out some interesting programs and activities, and of course, build some unforgettable family memories.
The Galleries for American Arts and Popular Culture are made possible through lead gift support from Lilly Endowment Inc., Mel and Bren Simon, Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation, Gerald and Dorit Paul, Thelma L. “T” Wilds, Sharon W. Doiron, and Shirley S. Bryant.
