Museums

I feel that the museum plays a big part in what I want to later design for the exhibition. Therefore further research is needed. Below are the main sources I found when researching into museums and the idea of touch within them.

Judith Mastai (2007). “There is no such thing as a visitor”. In Griselda Pollock and Joyce Zemans (Eds.), Museums after modernism. (173-177) United Kingdom: Blackwell Publishing Ltd

This looks into how the focus of museums has shifted to the customer due to financial support from the government has been reduced. Looks into how the museum staff look into the way visitors walk through the exhibits how they ‘make their path’.

Pollock, G (2007). Un-framing the Modern: Critical Space/Public Possibility. In G. Pollock and J. Zemans (Eds.), Museums after modernism. (173-177) United Kingdom: Blackwell Publishing Ltd

This chapter from the book focusses on the museum and how the architectural factors of museums are changing. Portraying how not only has the art transformed and modernised but the buildings have also. This also links in to the way art is exhibited. It’s no longer in a cabinet. There is a new essence to museums that wasn’t there when ‘no touching’ was first introduced within public museums.

These chapters have helped give me a better all-round understanding of museums. Something that I find very important. I think that the more information and knowledge I have on the subject the more refined my end project will become.

Shoplifting

I have done some research on shoplifting. Below are two articles which will help further my knowledge specifically in shoplifting. The first is data based in the US focussing on adolescent shoplifting. The second looks into New Zealand, focussing on data on shoplifting along with actions made to reduce shoplifting within New Zealand.

Cox, D, Cox, A D, and Moschis, G P. (1990) when consumer behaviour goes bad: An investigation of adolescent shoplifting. Journal of Consumer Research 17(2).  p. 149-159. Retrieved from www.jstor.org

 

Evans, D (n.d.). Fighting Back. NZRetail. p.16-20

 

 

 

 

 

What I'm looking into.

I like the idea of merging retail stores and museums so as to reduce shoplifting.
I want to use the physical and social barriers so as to persuade consumers not to touch the items within the store. Without touch there is a much lower risk in shoplifting.

Research - Museums

As it turns out, my research into museums in reference to touching has linked adequately to my major and minor.
Through researching into shoplifting, I started to think about the aspects of shoplifting and what it entails. Focussing on the sense of touch. Due to my interest in museums and their policy of no touching, I thought the fact that shoplifters shoplift because they have the capability to touch the object in question.
It then got me thinking into why museums have a no touch policy and whether that was relatable to shoplifting and this project.
In my findings I discovered that in fact, museums used to require the visitor to touch the artefacts and art pieces. It was a sign of politeness. This was back in the late 17th and 18th century.
A quote from Classen's book 'Touch in the Museum' states "Touch functioned to correct the misconceptions of sight.” In other words to appreciate a piece of art did not stop at merely looking at the object, but handling the object as well. What touch can reveal about the artefact is much more beneficial and appreciative than just by looking at it. Classen also says that if one doesn't fully involve themselves within the museum tour (asking questions and touching the objects) it would be the same as being invited for tea and not touching the food. This is something that I find very interesting.

Classen, C. (Ed.). (n.d.) Touch in the Museum. The Book of Touch Getty Museum. Retrieved from http://faculty.utep.edu/Portals/1649/3390HS/Classen%202005%20Touch%20in%20the%20Museum.pdf

Research - shoplifting

I have found a great article on www.jstor.org which relates perfectly within shoplifting. This article focusses on shoplifting within the US. Mostly focusses on the shoplifting from adolescents. This is because adolescents make up around 40% of shoplifters. Other shoplifters include professional thieves and those who work at the store. But the majority are adolescents.
This article relates specifically to my marketing minor as it discusses shoplifting in the context of consumer behaviour. According to this article shoplifting is the least understood aspect of consumer behaviour.
Below is the APA reference to the article discussed. I plan to research further into shoplifting but from a national point of view. Looking into recent sources that relate directly to New Zealand itself.

Cox, D, Cox, A D, and Moschis, G P. (1990) when consumer behaviour goes bad: An investigation of adolescent shoplifting. Journal of Consumer Research 17(2).  p. 149-159. Retrieved from www.jstor.org

On the side interest

Something that interests me is museums and their sense of touch with exhibitions. I find the idea very intriguing and something that I will research into. Hopefully I'll find a link between touching within museums with design and marketing. I feel like it is something that I may be able to involve in my research process and also something that might attribute to my creative output.

Final link

Out of the four links that I believe to be most interesting, I think that the most interesting one to further research is the link between atmospherics and social design. Both are interesting subjects that together I believe would be very interesting. I will research into shoplifting both globally and nationally. I will also research into aspects of atmospherics within stores.