CULTURAL HERITAGE QUIZ: PART 3

Heritage Moments | Selin Kahramanoglu

It's the final test!

This month's post will focus on the challenges surrounding cultural heritage. Every community has their own obstacles in regards to which stories they want to share with future generations, and how it should be passed on. Of course, cultural heritage will not survive all by itself. Most of the time, groups of people need to work together to keep it alive!

Nadampha Cultural Festival. Source.

When it comes to defending our own personal history and culture, some people go to great lengths to protect it. Want to see how far you might go? Based on my own knowledge, try this little quiz that I made to learn more about cultural heritage challenges.

If you answer "YES" to any of the statements in italics, give yourself five points! If you answer "NO," then add zero points. Keep a tally of your score, and read about your results at the end.

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Teaching the Next Generation

I would teach the next generations about my cultural heritage, by practicing some of my traditions.

Whether you're sharing a dinner recipe, practicing a wedding ritual, or telling a story, the passing down of cultural heritage traditions is the best way to preserve our history for the future. It is important that you find what is meaningful to you, and try sharing your passions and ideas with others.

Protesting Misrepresentations

I would protest any published work, public event, or governing body that misrepresents my community's history. 

If you have ever heard the phrase, "History is written by the winners" then you know that not all textbooks tell the whole truth. It is important to vocalize when you feel your community is being targeted or misunderstood. However, these actions can have grave consequences, like being jailed, or being publicly humiliated for speaking out. It is important to both protest, and listen to protesters, respectfully.

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Physical Suffering

I would suffer injury or death to protect my cultural heritage.

To many, cultural heritage is at the core of a person's identity. If people do not understand their culture, chances are that they feel lost or abandoned. For this reason, cultural heritage is especially significant in our understanding of one another, and our place in the world. This also means that a small number of people will go to extremes to protect it from harm, including putting their own lives at risk.

Genuine Interest

I would do further research about different cultural heritages, and try to learn more about it.

It is especially important to realize that cultural heritage will evolve overtime. Traditions change, borders change, people mix, cultures mix, and these are often unavoidable. Ultimately, we need to stay open to learning more about our own culture heritage and those belonging to others. How else are we supposed to learn about the world? Go and experience as much as you can!

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Results of Tallied Points
0 points = There's still time to try and learn more about cultural heritage! Try to research your ancestry, or join in on another culture's traditions to understand it better.

5 points = You're on your way to protecting cultural heritage! Keep looking for some safe and enjoyable ways to experience more.

10 points = Well done! You are an ally to cultural heritage! There's always more to learn, so try to keep up with the evolving changes.

15 points = Wow, you're a regular defender of cultural heritage! Remember to explore innovative ways to preserve cultural heritage for future generations.

20 points = You're all fired up to protect cultural heritage! Be wary of more dangerous methods of safeguarding your cultural heritage, but continue trying to learn as much as you can from varying perspectives on cultural heritage.

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There's a lot of challenges involved in protecting and preserving cultural heritage, like apathy, disrespect, or close-mindedness from others. The important thing is that we try to experience as much as we can, with as many people as possible, and from as many different cultures as possible. That way, cultural heritage will not only survive, it will thrive for many years to come.

Thanks for trying out the quizzes! See you again soon!

CULTURAL HERITAGE QUIZ: PART 1

Heritage Moments | Selin Kahramanoglu

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How much do you know about cultural heritage?

This summer, I'm super excited to be taking on the Heritage Moments column! All three of my blog posts will feature a quiz, gradually introducing readers to more complex topics on cultural heritage. This month's post will be a general overview of its definition.
Are you up for the challenge?

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Pick TRUE or FALSE for each question. Answers will quickly follow, so don't scroll down too much.

1. Cultural heritage is studied in History. 
2. Cultural heritage always takes on a material form.
3. If a culture has no tangible cultural heritage, then it does not exist.
4. Objects are larger than they appear. (Threw you off with this one, didn't I?)

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Answer to #1: TRUE

Cultural heritage is broadly defined as the legacies of a group of people (cultures, or societies), which have been passed on and continues to be preserved for future generations.

• From this definition, of course cultural heritage is found in History! Studying and preserving the past is what historians do best! You know who else would love doing that? Anthropologists, political scientists, writers, artists, urban planners, biologists... 

Oh wait. That's a lot of different professions. (wink wink) That's right, practically every discipline has a reason to study cultural heritage. Everyone can learn something from it!

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Answer to #2: FALSE

When I (poorly) sing a song by ABBA, did I just create it? As much as I'd like to claim "Super Trouper," the song is not mine. The only reason why I know all the words to the '80s song is because that track has transcended generations. I do not have any sheet music, but the melody has been shared globally, and it will continue to circulate for many more years. Sound familiar?

• Tangible: Some cultural heritage takes a physical form - an ancient Greek amphitheater, a painting by Jackson Pollock, or the early drafts of George Orwell's "1984."
• Intangible: Other types of cultural heritage is not a material, but they're still just as valuable - a spoken word poem, oral histories, music, a wedding ceremony, or a digital blog post.

Many people also consider a third category: Natural heritage. This includes cultural landscapes, like Grand Pré, the Medici Villas, or the Matobo Hills.

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Answer to #3: FALSE

What if I told you that dragons are real. I have no animal bones, no reports of sightings, no drawings, or photographs. Do you believe me? No, because I can't prove it.

• If one day, I did find tangible heritage, like a fossilized dragon scale, then it is no longer a myth, right? The physical materials become evidence of its existence. However, did the dragon suddenly become real when I found the bone? No, it was real before, but we just couldn't be sure.

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This idea is true for cultural heritage. Just because we don't have any tangible remains of a culture, that does not mean that they do not exist. Perhaps the group left no trace? Maybe their legacies are all intangible? Think about it!

Answer to #4: TRUE

I’m not just talking about the side-view mirrors of your car. The significance of cultural heritage changes for each person. Perspective is everything!

• Think about a family photo album. If you belong to the family to which the photo album belongs, then this heritage is probably more meaningful to you, than to a non-family member.
• Meaningfulness is not always apparent from the outside. Think about intentionality and symbolism involved in the creation and expression of our heritage. 

Phew, and that's the basics!

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Cultural heritage helps us know more about this world, who lived here, and how these groups interacted. What similarities do we have? How did we develop that idea? Cultural heritage is invaluable to know where we’ve been, so that we can better predict where we’re going.

Stay tuned for next month's post and quiz!

Further Reading
The Khan Academy's definition of Cultural Heritage
UNESCO's World Heritage List
Listen to ABBA's 1980 song "Super Trouper"

WHICH CELEBRITY MUSEUM MOMENT ARE YOU?

WALK OF FAME

BY: MADELINE SMOLARZ

Celebrities are hard to ignore, and this includes in the museum world. Unexpected visits can cause media storms, their appearance at events can give the museum’s image a boost (well, depending on their reputation…), and many are philanthropists of arts and culture institutions and initiatives. It seems few can turn away from the shine of the stars.

With the sudden, epic rise of “Pratt-Keeping” on social media following the June 12, 2015 release of Jurassic World, many of us have celebrities and museums on our minds. Chris Pratt isn’t the first famous individual to have been linked to an institution that falls under the museum umbrella, intentionally or not. Have you ever found yourself wondering which memorable celebrity museum moment you would be? Of course you have. Wonder no more, dear Musings readers. It’s quiz time again. Sit back and indulge - it’s Friday, after all!

This example of Pratt-Keeping from the Smithsonian might be the best yet. Source. 

Unlike my last quiz, the system I have implemented below is based on points. Please record the point value of each of your answers, total them up when you are done, and then use your final tally to uncover your result and the museum you’re associated with.

THE QUIZ

Question 1: Choose an artefact / artwork.

a) A dinosaur skeleton. – 5 points
b) An Easter Island head. – 3 points
c) The Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead. – 4 points
d) A Picasso portrait. – 1 point
e) The Mona Lisa. – 6 points
f) A famous piece of fashion. – 2 points

Question 2: What would be your dream location to live?

a) Chicago. – 1 point
b) New York. – 3 points
c) A Costa Rican island. – 5 points
d) Barbados. – 2 points
e) Egypt. – 4 points
f) Paris. – 6 points

Question 3: Pick an outfit.

a) A vibrantly coloured ball gown with a minimum 5-foot train. – 2 points
b) Something that incorporates a leather vest and a knife in my belt. – 5 points
c) A flowing dress or skirt with my favourite bangles. – 4 points
d) Anything designer. – 6 points
e) As long as it’s not my work uniform, I’m happy. – 3 points
f) My best throwback 80s getup. – 1 points

Question 4: If your life was a movie, who would be your sidekick?

a) My significant other. – 6 points
b) My two best friends. – 1 point
c) A bumbling sibling. – 4 points
d) Who needs a sidekick? – 2 points
e) Three raptors. – 5 points
f) My son / daughter. – 3 points

Question 5: Which special talent / skill would you rather have?

a) Talking to artefacts. – 3 points
b) A unique singing voice. – 6 points
c) Wild animal wrangling. – 5 points
d) Expert-level knowledge of an ancient civilization. – 4 points
e) No-fail hooky skills. – 1 point
f) Memorable style. – 2 points

Question 6: What do you do to relax?

a) Go anywhere that’s not work. It’s way too stressful there. – 3 points
b) Take a day off and have an unplanned adventure. – 1 point
c) Tear around on my motorcycle. – 5 points
d) Travel. – 2 points
e) Visit a famous artistic masterpiece. – 6 points
f) Read a book on my favourite subject. – 4 points

THE ANSWERS

If your score is between 0 and 6, you are…

Matthew Broderick as Ferris Bueller in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” – The Art Institute of Chicago

This 1986 classic revolves around a young high school student who just wants a day off. Broderick's character teams up with his two best friends to have an adventure in Chicago while managing to escape the wrath of their principal and families. One sequence depicts the trio interacting with and responding to various works of art at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Sloane, Ferris, and Cameron gaze at some Picasso portraits. Source.

If your score is between 7 and 12, you are…

Rihanna dressed for the Costume Institute Gala – The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The annual Costume Institute Gala at the Met has become a star-studded affair, with flocks of celebrities sporting designer clothing often specially crafted with the year's theme in mind. In recent years, musician Rihanna has quickly become the most-watched attendee as her outfits are often the most extravagant.

Rihanna at the 2015 Met Gala. The theme was "China: Through The Looking Glass," the title of it's current exhibition.  Source.

If your score is between 13 and 18, you are…

Ben Stiller as Larry Daley in “Night at the Museum” – The Smithsonian Institute's National Museum of Natural History

Who hasn't started a new job and found out it's not exactly what you expected? The museum Larry Daley works at has artefacts that come to life at night. The film and its two sequels are nearly entirely set in the National Museum of Natural History in New York, making it a very popular destination for fans of the film since the first one was released in 2006.

Ben Stiller as Larry Daley, striking a Zoolander-esque pose in a main hall of the NMNH. Source.

If your score is between 19 and 24, you are…

Rachel Weisz as Evelyn Carnahan in “The Mummy” – The Cairo Museum of Antiquities

We first meet Weisz's character in the library of the Cairo Museum where she accidentally knocks down all of the bookshelves in a room while working. The Museum appears a few other times in The Mummy trilogy in pivotal scenes and it is Evelyn's vast knowledge - no doubt gained in part through visits to the Museum and it's library - that drives the storyline. It is now known as The Egyptian Museum. 

A snippet of Evelyn's introductory scene sequence. That poor library. Source.

If your score is between 25 and 30, you are…

Chris Pratt as Owen Grady in “Jurassic World” – zoos / natural history museums

This memorable scene was mentioned in this article already. Pratt's character Owen Grady has a special bond with a group of raptors he is in the middle of training when he has to rescue a worker from their pen, leading him to assert his dominance over them in the now-iconic scene.

Pratt as Owen Grady, calming the raptors long enough for his colleague to escape. Source.

If your score is over 31, you are…

Beyoncé posing with the Mona Lisa with husband Jay Z – The Louvre

The multi-talented Beyoncé, known best for her singing career, and her equally musically-inclined rapper husband Jay Z paid a visit to the Louvre in the fall of 2014. Their photo in front of the Mona Lisa exploded on social media; it's nearly impossible to take one on a regular, crowded day at the famed gallery. The couple apparently paid for the gallery to be opened for their private perusal.

The star posted the photo to her Tumblr account where it quickly gained attention. Source. 

I hope you had as much fun doing this quiz as I did putting it together! Happy weekend, readers.

DON'T KNOW WHAT TO WATCH TONIGHT? TAKE THE MUSEUM MYSTERY MOVIE QUIZ

MUSEUM MYSTERIES

BY: MADELINE SMOLARZ

The days are getting longer, but the snow continues to fall and temperatures are still consistently below zero. Yes, spring is coming, but it remains beyond our reach. Sometimes, hunkering down with a good film, a bowl of popcorn, and a warm blanket is the only thing to do this time of the year. It was the 87th Academy Awards last night after all, so film is a hot topic at the moment. Since there’s nothing like a little suspense to make movie night more thrilling, I have put together a quick questionnaire to help you decide which museum mystery-themed film you should watch. Sit back, pretend you’re on Buzzfeed for a few minutes, and take Musings’ Museum Mystery Movie Quiz!

You too could be gobbling down popcorn while watching a great movie. On to question 1! Source.

1. Which museum would you visit if you could be transported to one right this instant?

a) The Louvre, Paris, France
b) Madame Toussauds Wax Museum, London, England
c) The American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA
d) The Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul, Turkey
e) The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA

2. What kind of book do you reach for before bed?

a) A detective-style mystery
b) A horror story
c) An action-adventure
d) A classic heist book
e) A romance novel

3. If you could time travel, which time period would you visit?

a) An ancient era, maybe around the time of Christ
b) The 1930s
c) Nowhere, I’m perfectly happy right here
d) The 1960s
e) The 1990s

4. Pick a museum object:

a) The Holy Grail
b) A wax sculpture of Marie Antoinette
c) The skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus Rex
d) An emerald-encrusted dagger
e) A priceless Monet painting

5. Which kind of lead movie character do you most admire?

a) The intelligent professional
b) The twisted, mastermind villain
c) The rateable and down-to-earth type
d) The smart, capable female
e) The confident billionaire

Time to total up your answers.

If you chose mostly As…
Watch: THE DA VINCI CODE (2006)
It’s up to a Harvard religious studies professor to clear his own name when he is framed for the murder of a Louvre curator, a process that happens to involve searching for the Holy Grail.

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If you chose mostly Bs…

Watch: THE MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM (1933)
Someone is stealing bodies from the local morgue and the figures at the Wax Museum are beginning to resemble the recently dead.

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If you chose mostly Cs…

Watch: NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM (2006)
Under the watch of a new security guard, the exhibitions at the American Museum of Natural History come to life at night.

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If you chose mostly Ds…

Watch: TOPKAPI (1964)
A gang of assorted criminals assemble to carry out a classic heist in order to steal the jewelled dagger their female mastermind is fascinated with.

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If you chose mostly Es…

Watch: THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR (1999)
A bored, brilliant billionaire stages the theft of a $100 million Monet from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, but he may have met his match in the detective hired to solve his complex crime.

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I highly recommend any of the options listed above, so if a film other than the one you were matched with catches your eye, keep it in mind for your next movie night. Enjoy!