Browsing by Author "Zych, Weronika"

National identity can be constructed by the nation-state to produce shared meanings and narratives with which the citizens associate. One way for the nation to ‘imagine’ itself is through the museum; these institutions construct and alter identities by exhibiting artefacts and stories that connect the past with the present and sharing text, images and material objects that exemplify ideals of heritage and culture. This master thesis approaches the construction of identity as it is created and shaped in national museums, focusing on how these institutions act as ideological agents and how they contribute to the creation and understanding of national identity. Specifically, this thesis examines how Sámi heritage and culture are articulated and incorporated into the discourse on Finnish national identity. The thesis questions: how do Sámi-related exhibitions contribute to the narrative on national identity? Do the geographical locations of the museums, the layouts of exhibitions, and the voices interpreting and presenting the exhibition displays play a role in how the Sámi are included as part of the nation’s identity? Utilising the case study method, this thesis investigates two museums in Finland that house a permanent exhibition on the Sámi people and culture: the National Museum of Finland, located in Helsinki, and the Siida – The National Museum of the Finnish Sámi and Nature Centre, located in Inari. Situated at the cross-section of the growing literature on nation building and identity construction, and how these ideologies are balanced within the museum setting, the research presented here attempts to understand how identity is articulated and adapted in different contexts and locations. The thesis concludes that the exhibition and presentation of artefacts of Sámi culture in museums can greatly influence in the development of national identity. Indeed, curators and scholars must pay close attention to the social and political spheres of all groups they exhibit if museums are to continue maintaining the reputation as institutions of knowledge and culture.