P.T. Barnum presents : the greatest classroom on earth! : historical inquiry into the role of education in Barnum's American Museum
| dc.contributor.advisor | Bolin, Paul Erik, 1954- | en |
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Mayer, Melinda | en |
| dc.creator | Murray, Lisa Rochelle | en |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2010-06-04T14:44:32Z | en |
| dc.date.available | 2010-06-04T14:44:32Z | en |
| dc.date.issued | 2009-08 | en |
| dc.date.submitted | August 2009 | en |
| dc.description | text | en |
| dc.description.abstract | This study of P.T. Barnum’s American Museum challenges readers to examine Barnum in a new light. An argument is made that P.T. Barnum was a successful museum educator whose philosophies and actions align with three modern museum education discourses: free-choice learning, constructivism, and edutainment. These findings challenge the commonly-held belief that Barnum was simply a showman, best known for his work in the circus and for a quote that has been mis-attributed to him that, “there’s a sucker born every minute.” The research undertaken for this investigation focuses on museums and education in the nineteenth century. This study presents a brief history of the emergence of museums in America, spanning the years 1782–1841. Six museum proprietors are discussed in accordance with their beliefs in three educational philosophies: popular education, useful education and didactic education. A focus is then made towards P.T. Barnum and his American Museum. A brief biography of Barnum prior to his career as a museum proprietor is included. The holdings and organization of the American Museum is described, revealing some of the influence it had on nineteenth-century culture. The thesis concludes by illustrating how Barnum’s American Museum exemplified three forms of education: free-choice learning, constructivism, and edutainment. In it I argue that Barnum was an effective museum educator and his legacy should reflect this important feature of his character. | en |
| dc.description.department | Art and Art History | en |
| dc.format.mimetype | application/pdf | en |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/2152/ETD-UT-2009-08-279 | en |
| dc.language.iso | eng | en |
| dc.subject | P.T. Barnum | en |
| dc.subject | Museum Education | en |
| dc.subject | History of Museums | en |
| dc.subject | Constructivism | en |
| dc.subject | Free-Choice Learning | en |
| dc.subject | Edutainment | en |
| dc.subject | Barnum's American Museum | en |
| dc.title | P.T. Barnum presents : the greatest classroom on earth! : historical inquiry into the role of education in Barnum's American Museum | en |
| dc.type.genre | thesis | en |
| thesis.degree.department | Art and Art History | en |
| thesis.degree.discipline | Art Education | en |
| thesis.degree.grantor | The University of Texas at Austin | en |
| thesis.degree.level | Masters | en |
| thesis.degree.name | Master of Arts | en |