Date of Award
Spring 5-8-2021
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
MA Museum Professions
Department
Communication and the Arts
Advisor
Gregory Stevens, MAT
Committee Member
Renee Robinson, PhD
Committee Member
Ruth Tsuria, PhD
Committee Member
McKenna Schray, PhD
Keywords
propaganda, persuasion, public trust, museum communication, public engagement, audience interpretation, audience meaning-making, case study
Abstract
According to the Edelman Trust Barometer (2021), public trust in information sources has drastically decreased in America, except for museums. Since museums have historically spread propaganda through their communications, this multisite case study analysis of three American museums, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Creation Museum, investigated how museum propaganda impacts public trust. After examining Twitter posts and responses to the three cases, findings showed that even when museums did not intentionally spread propaganda, audience interpretations still led to a fracturing of trust. Recommendations for the field were developed from this conclusion, emphasizing the need for museums to have propaganda awareness, maintain authenticity, take action, and practice accountability.
Recommended Citation
Mancini, Devon Anna, "Propaganda or Persuasion: A Multisite Case Study Analysis of the Impact of Museum Communications on American Public Trust" (2021). Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs). 2923.
https://scholarship.shu.edu/dissertations/2923
