Digital Technology and Museum Narratives

The impact of digital technology on modern life cannot be over estimated. Even in America's most orthodox public institutions the effect of digital technology can be seen. In American art museums the demands of a public comfortable with digital media, interactivity, and social networking, have caused widespread change. Together these changes have affected the individual and collective narratives of American art museums. Surveying the member institutions of the Association of Art Museum Directors, the author examines the use of digital technology in American art museums, the confidence of museum professionals in digital technology, and the role of digital technology in museum narratives.