Rachel+H+R10

Museums have different levels of information that visitors can access based on what they want to get out of their visit. One person may walk through a museum and never read a single label but may observe objects and displays intently. On the other hand, another person may meticulously read all the labels and plaques. Both will gain different knowledge, neither is better it just depends on what the viewer is trying to obtain. Also, for an additional fee, often times you can purchase a headset for an audio tour which commonly provides additional information not presented on display labels. Then there is always the option of being a part of one of those guided tour groups that gets herded through the museum. All approaches to experiencing the museum have their pros and cons. Some are cheaper or may take less time but some maybe provide more information. I think in the end it all depends on what the individual wants to get out of their visit. If you are really interested in the content of the museum you will undoubtedly get more out of it because you will process and categorize the information in more depth than someone who perhaps is not as versed or intrigued in the subject.

I myself have only taken one tour with a guide (mostly because of a limited budget and because I always thought the people in those groups were like sheep who have no freedom to explore the museum because they have to say with their chaperon) and although I hated the feeling of being part of our group of 15 or so it turned out to be very beneficial. The tour was of the Vatican Art Museum and our guide proved to be quite knowledgeable and charismatic. It cost 30 euro to have a guide and included admission to the museum, but the best part of the deal was that we didn't have to wait in the long line on an 80 degree day to get in (which was predicted to be 3 hours at the least). Another perk was that the guide showed us the most "important" or prominent pieces in the 53 galleries and also gave extensive background knowledge about the museum itself, information that wasn't provided on any plaque or sign. I think in an instance like the Vatican Museum it was beneficial to spend the extra money because we saved time, gained much more knowledge than if we had explored on our own, and got to interact with more people and discuss pieces with people from around the world.

I think that most people know what kind of learner they are or how they learn the best so they should make their decision of how they view a museum based off of that and based on how much they are willing to spend on different viewing options. Also I think the way you experience the museum also can be decided on your particular interest in or knowledge of the content of the museum.