Riley Mason

Abstract

Interpretation is a museum’s most significant form of communication with visitors. Historic collections, material representations of distinct historical narratives and themes, hold objects and cultural knowledge that enable them to contextualize contemporary concepts like fashion through exhibit-based interpretation and extend these concepts beyond labels through interactivity. To investigate the role of these specialized repositories in challenging existing narratives and connecting with modern audiences, this thesis developed a collection-driven exhibit to answer the following question: how can institutions activate special collection objects through relevant interpretation and non-digital interactive experiences in exhibits? Through researching and analyzing four objects from the Bruce and Susan Greene Costume Collection at Genesee Country Village & Museum in Mumford, New York and placing them in conversation with objects from my own collection, I developed an exhibit that seeks to explore the ability of historic costume collections to connect to modern fashion and society in meaningful ways. I placed these historical objects in dialogue with modern fashion objects, prompting visitors to consider potential connections between garments across fashion’s broad and storied history. To accompany these objects, I created four interactive elements and strategies tailored to the exhibit’s content and informed by existing theories and methods of visitor engagement. This project utilizes historic collections and the institutions in which they are located as dynamic resources for visitor engagement, in the process considering the social and cultural factors that shape interpretation and interactive development and contributing to the dialogue on the evolving interpretations of fashion.

Publication Date

5-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Undergraduate

Degree Name

Museum Studies (BS)

College

College of Liberal Arts

Advisor

Juilee Decker

Advisor/Committee Member

Richard Newman

Advisor/Committee Member

Samaya Nasr

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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