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Citation: 

Bedford, Leslie. “Finding the Story in History.” In Connecting Kids to History with Museum Exhibitions, edited by D. Lynn McRainey and John Russick, 97-116. Walnut Creek, CA: Left Coast Press, 2010.

Abstract/Summary: 

Although the two approaches are often used interchangeably, there is a difference between storytelling and narrative. A story, both fiction and non-fiction, tells what happened at some time, in some place, to someone. Narrative refers to how a story is told or interpreted through a certain medium such as a book, video game or exhibition. In the creation of an exhibition it is important to employ both storytelling and narration. Bedford employs the theories of Bruner in discussing modes of thought, storytelling/narrative and paradigmatic mode to discuss museum exhibitions. Bedford then describes the five types of understanding as described by Egan: somatic, mythic, romantic, philosophic, and ironic followed by an explanation of how they are employed through the use of cognitive tools for the imagination. How each of the five types of understanding fits into story and imagination and exhibitions at history museums is then explored. Bedford concludes the chapter with examples (Unites States Holocaust Museum: Daniel’s Story, Oklahoma City National Memorial, etc.) that put into practice the theories of Bruner and Egan when creating history exhibitions for children. Effective exhibitions that use narrative suggest that the best exhibitions “draw as much on the arts as on education.” 

Source/Credit: 
Erika Smith