An essay: Technology in Museums

Write about the relevance of technology in museums today.

Technopolis, a science, industry and art open air museum was inaugurated in

Argentina in 2011. It has been the product of a shift in museum policy. Now being open to

wider audiences, museums seek to educate and also entertain through the use of technology.

A real attempt has been made to attract a more diverse audience by a judicious use of

technology. In order to support this, museum technicians have had to come up with

alternative ways of displaying the objects in their possession and have relied on new

technology to "breathe more life" into them. This is an interesting point of view that justifies

the use of innovative technology as a way of engaging people's interest in museum exhibits,

especially those who are less literate.

Opponents to the introduction of technology in museums argue that this is a change

for the worse. They claim that it has been forgotten that the aim of a museum is to promote

learning and broaden the horizons of its visitors and that museums have lost their way,

because the medium has become more important that the subject matter. However, in the

past years museums have employed well-trained staff who are capable of being of service to

the public through. In addition, curators use a wide variety of interactive dynamics which

provide visitors with hands-on experience.

There are different reactions to what museums are offering in the 21st century. In my

opinion, technology is having a positive impact by serving educational purposes. The number

of people attending museums is on the increase and surveys carried out by different

institutions are showing that visitors are satisfied with the knowledge that they gain from the

visits. To round off the discussion, any transfer of knowledge is a positive outcome and

museums are definitely contributing to the democratization of information in a educated

society.
 An essay: Interior Design: Beauty or Comfort?
Have nothing is your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be
beautiful. (William Morris)
Any old place I can hang my hat is home sweet home to me. (William Jerome)
Write an essay.

These days, there is a growing band of interior decorators who adhere to different

styles and come up with imaginative ways to transform their homes. Nevertheless, it is house-

owners who face the question of whether to favour function or form, beauty or comfort. To

have or not to have- that is the question.

The exaltation of form or the concept of cluttered spaces is typically British. For

example, Georgian, Edwardian and Victorian styles usually arrange an ecclectic mix of items to

create cozy atmospheres with a jumbled collection of objects. In addition, Art Nouveau and Art

Deco are two examples of period styles which have triggered the incorporation of exotic items

such as plants and jewelry into homes. Due to increased travelling abroad, gifts have began to

accumulate in most homes and people have been finding it hard to dispose of these items of

furniture. Moreover, mass production items since the Bauhaus revolution have started to pile

up in every house. For example, jumbled coffee sets and radios which served a purpose in the

past, no longer match contemporary tastes. In addition, excessive consumerism in general

leads to spaces which, no matter how luxurious they may seem, end up being visually tiring in

most cases.

The opposite principle is that of Minimalism: 'less is more'. This movement has its

roots in the Japanese tradition of balance between space and objects. More simple, tidied

away spaces are preferred by adherents to this trend. It is a general truth that the East is wiser

in terms of practicality. Since the early days of history, Chinese philosophers have emphasized

the primacy of nature over man-made and artificial elements. This is generally known as Feng

Shui, and advocates of this movement believe that natural environments bring about health,
wealth, good fortune and are consequently more balanced. In my view, Feng Shui is a more

reflective and flexible approach which enables collaborative decision-making between

designers and house owners.

The opposition between form and function is a triggering a lot of debate. In my

opinion polarizing the issue, going to extremes, only benefits those who want to take

advantage of clients for the mere sake of profit. Unfortunately, many people are interested in

making interior design more of a market rather than an art. When one is on a tight budget, it is

especially advisable to make informed decisions at the time of carrying out interior decoration.

Going back to basics: a balance between form and function to reflect an identity of one's own.
 An essay: Changing Fashions: Useful?
Write about ever-changing fashion and Designer vs High Street fashion.

These days, the fashion industry is one of the biggest businesses in the world. One

might wonder whether its role in society is not being over exaggerated. Does the value of

changing fashions lie on its potential as an entertainment factor in the media or, rather, as an

example of a human activity that seeks to achieve useful function over superficial form?

The value of fashionable clothes is hidden in its history. In other words, the older a

piece of clothing is, the more expensive it becomes, provided it is in good conditions. This

advocates for the need to preserve clothes in community wardrobes so that they can be re-

used by people. In my opinion, fashions' value is to be appreciated from a historical point of

view, considering that human customs must be sustainable, that is, eco-friendly.

Designer fashion, that which is often displayed in lavish catwalks, is almost always far

away from the general public. However, ordinary people are constantly being bombarded with

and pushed to consume it in most shops. It is true that there exist great artists who make a

wonderful job in designing eye-catching clothes, but people should be cautious about their

value. I quite disagree with the notion of haute couture since it conceives fashion as a mere

business rather than an artistic discipline. To put it differently, most of what people see in

magazines and catwalks is frivolous and serves no real purpose.

To sum up, fashion has been changing but this phenomenon was for the sake of

making a profit rather than fulfilling a human need. Let us not fall into the trap of industry and

start appreciating more the value of the old clothes made by our parents and ancestors,

advocating against the throwaway culture.