For the most part, I edited most (hopefully all) of the grammatical errors, but as for the content and structure, I'll probably go back and look over it again to see if I need to edit the content and structure of the essay. Anyway, this is another one of my timed practice essays that was for my English class. I think I might have one of two left to type up. The topic was what should be an important factor for museums to choose a specific artifact. Should be the marketability the determining factor or should museums be more focused on culture in their exhibitions. Funny how it's all about the money sometimes. . .
The synthesis free-response question can be found here in this PDF file: http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/ap/students/english/ap07_eng_...
Considerations of Museums
Museums– are they just a group of boring buildings? You’d be surprised at how museums make decisions and considerations on certain artworks and artifacts. Is marketability an essential part of appealing to visitors or should culture and historical accuracy be the dominating factor for these considerations? Although money is an important part to keeping a museum function, financial decisions shouldn’t overshadow the cultural aspect of each exhibition.
When it comes to sharing the culture of each and every exhibition, all of their information should be shared with the public, including the dirty truth that destroys the ‘fairy tale’ image. According to Ada Louise Huxtable, the model of Colonial Williamsburg was “predating. . . the new world order of Disney Enterprises” and replacing “reality with selective fantasy”(Source E). In other words, the model inaccurately portrayed what the colonial town looked like, excluding the gritty filth and stench of its reality. In addition, the National Museum of the American Indian dedicates itself “to protect and foster their cultures by reaffirming. . . encouraging. . . and empowering the Indian voice” (Source C). If culture is unanimously chosen as a deciding factor, then the museum’s content should fully display truth to property educate their visitor and not diminish a museum’s purpose.
Furthermore, the marketability of a museum makes a mockery f visualizing history, including the good, the bad, and the ugly. Have museums become “gift shops” due to this appeal? Referring to a speech given by museum director Sherman E. Lee, items are chosen to be reproduced due to its marketability, and the appeals are justified by how profits are used to fund educational purposes (Source D). Even if the purpose of profits is ethically justified, would marketability override the aesthetic value of an exhibition? Using another example, Charles Pearles established a museum that relied on “public patronage” for financial funding and in addition to a large scientific collection of species, he “also offered his visitors performers, a zoo, and an intriguing assembly of biological oddities” (Source B). Although such attractions would gather more visitors to a museum, the efforts to appeal to their amusements will more likely detract them from the learning experience.
In conclusion, the cultural variety and aesthetic values should determine the content of a museum. After all, isn’t the purpose of a museum to expose the wonders of the past and educate the public with accurate information? Money can be an important factor in placing a museum intact and continuing the education; nonetheless, financial gain also could devalue the didactic atmosphere when not handled in moderation.
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