galleries headed in the right direc Essays

1. Are museums/galleries headed in the right direc Essays 1. Are museums/galleries headed in the right direction by including the WEB into their "worlds" in different accessible ways? Is this a great way (the virtual museum ) to create accessibility to museums and art for the masses and classes? Why /why not? In my opinion, I believe that there are pros and cons to include the WEB into their "worlds". With having an entire museum/gallery at the tip of your fingers and in the comfort of your own home, this is a great and innovative idea for those who are unable to visit a museum/gallery due to medical conditions. Of course, by having this virtual museum/gallery accessible to everyone, it may also encourage the masses, who are completely capable of going to the museum, to simply stay home and view the artwork through a computer screen or cellular device rather than drive to the museum itself; "why go there when we can simply view in the palm of our hands". The masses are then simply satisfied with viewing the work on a screen rather than appreciating it in the museum itself. Many years ago, many viewers used to be astounded to stand in the presence of an artwork created by such magnificent artists. One would go to a museum with excitement, and leave with a sense of fulfillment, having the o pportunity to walk among such talented artists and spectacular artwork. The viewer seemed to be content and may have afterwards told friends or family, talking about the amazing experience. Being able to view these museums without having to get out of bed, we will soon come to depreciate the artwork and artists, and the enjoyment the museums once gave us. As mentioned before, this idea is indeed innovative and great for those who are unable to visit the museum, but only further encourages the rest of the masses, who are capable of going to a museum, to view the artwork in their own home. 2. You, the newest generation, has grown up on the internet and having accessibility to everything from your couch at home. Will the virtual museum decrease visitors to galleries and the sale of art? Will you stop going? Will it make museums and gallery visits obsolete? Growing up in this new generation, and having accessibility to the world wide web from my couch due to the technological advances that have rapidly occurred over the past decade, I believe that the idea of the virtual museum will definitely decrease visitors to galleries and the sale of art. As we have adapted to spending countless hours on the internet, and sitting in the same position for a great amount of time, the virtual museums will only encourage this behavior. As mentioned before, if they are able to access the museum and artwork from home, why bother to go there anyways. The sale of art will also decline due to the lack of people willing to pay for the artwork. Many people buy artwork after seeing it in front of them, and appreciating its beauty. They may find it quite appealing in a room in their house or possibly in a studio. With the lack of viewers at museums, and most people only seeing the art on a flat screen, there is a great chance that the sale of art will indeed d ecline significantly. I will continue to visit the museums because I would much rather be able to tell people that I have seen a famous artwork in person rather than telling them how I sat at home for hours on a virtual tour. It also gives the viewer a sense of satisfaction that they were able to witness the magnificent pieces live, and be able to see the texture in a 3D space, rather than a flat screen. Unfortunately, although some may want to continue to visit the museums, most will much rather stay in the comfort of their home. In turn, the museums and galleries may become obsolete due to the lack of visitors, which may also cause bankruptcy for the museums themselves. With no money, and little to no visitors to view the pieces, how can one expect to be able to continue to run a museum,