Date of Award
2020
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Humanities
First Advisor
Michalson, Gordon
Area of Concentration
Religion
Abstract
Consciousness is a Buddhist concept that encompasses connectedness to the self, the world, the past, and the future. Understanding this concept is paramount to achieving enlightenment and a proper comprehension of the religion and culture. The Rubin Museum of Art in Chelsea, New York City is home to thousands of Himalayan Buddhist art pieces that span across thousands of years. This thesis explores the importance of the consciousness, how this is depicted within artistic symbols, and where the Rubin Museum successfully or unsuccessfully exhibits the importance of consciousness and its connection to other concepts. This has been done by looking at the curated themes of the artwork within the museum; where and how specific symbols and figures are talked about; and looking at selected exhibits or pieces to exemplify the success of that curated theme. These findings indicate that the Rubin Museum presents an issue many Western institutions have when exhibiting information from another culture; while some areas show success, there are many areas that could greatly benefit from improvement in educating the general public of the concepts at hand to create a better grasp on the cultural atmosphere of the Himalayas.
Recommended Citation
McCabe, Pamela, "THE LIMITS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION ON CONSCIOUSNESS: CURATING BUDDHISM" (2020). Theses & ETDs. 5875.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/5875