Smartphones in the Art Museum

Do you ever recall going into a museum and seeing people walking around with headphones on? These headphones are audio guides that will explain each exhibit in the museum. They are a good alternative if you do not want to walk around on an actual tour guide’s schedule. Now, it is becoming very popular for smartphones to act as audio guides as well! In the art museum, there are various advantages, as well as some disadvantages to this.

On the bright side, using a smartphone can be great to use because it is your own personal belonging that you know how to use. There is no frustration in trying to figure out how an audio guide works. Each museum uses different systems anyway, so why not just use your smartphone whenever given the option? On another note, some people do not think to use an audio guide provided by museums. If they know they can access a guide on their smartphone, some may be more inclined to participate in that.

I recently read the article: Are Smartphones Ruining the Museum Experience? It is about the Dallas Museum of Art having visitors participate in contests to scan certain hidden bars on the walls of the museum with their smartphone to earn points. These points earn visitors things like their rewards program. Author Peter Simek refers it to the visitors playing in a scavenger hunt all throughout the museum. The museum says that this is an engaging activity, but are the viewers really looking at the artwork? Surely some are, but what about others who just want the points? Eric Gibson comments how this concept is ruining the art viewing experience for viewers. Gibson says that art is meant to be observed, and studied. Rather than admiring artwork, we are just merely sightseeing. Rather than staring at Van Gough’s Starry Night in wonder, we look at it and say, “Look kids, here is Starry Night. Let’s move on to the next piece.” Using your smartphone like that at the art museum depersonalizes your experience.

As an art educator, I think it depends on how much the program in the smartphone can do. If it is only a guide through the museum, then it can be a valid source. Anything extra involved really depends on what the viewer gets out of it. When I bring students to an art museum, I want them to be engaged in what they are seeing, above all else. In class, this is a good topic to bring up. It is current, and relative to when they go to museums. I think it would be interesting to hear what students have to say on this matter.
Link to Are Smartphones Ruining the Museum Experience? :
http://frontrow.dmagazine.com/2013/12/are-smartphones-ruining-the-museum-experience/