Examining Perceptions of Authenticity in Museum Exhibits About Skateboarding

Abstract

University of Washington Abstract Examining Perceptions of Authenticity in Museum Exhibits About Skateboarding Kevin W. Bicknell Chair of Supervisory Committee: Kristine Morrissey, Director Museology Skateboarding culture has received an increasing amount of attention in museum exhibits in recent years. However, the people tasked with creating such exhibits often have little connection to the skateboarding community. As museums expand the scope of their exhibitions and strive to engage new audiences, they will inevitably encounter communities similar to the skateboarding community, in which members and non-members have different perceptions of what is authentic and what is not. Understanding how such communities construct authenticity will be invaluable in creating exhibits that appeal to both the communities at hand and the general public. If done correctly, such exhibits have the potential to engage new audiences and help inform the public opinion of often misrepresented communities. This study asked seven skateboarders to examine exhibit labels and artifacts from four different museum exhibits and decide which told an authentic story, which told an inauthentic story, and which they were unsure about. The results suggest that a demonstration of knowledge about skateboarding, the theme and language used in exhibit labels, and the perceived intentions of both the museum and those whose stories are being told in the exhibit are key contributors to perceptions of authenticity. Museums can use the methodology and results presented here to inform the object selection, narrative construction, and language used in future exhibits about skateboarding. Keywords: Skateboarding, Authenticity, Museum, Exhibit, Subculture