Virtual museum as a new model of communicative culture and museum pedagogy prospects

Abstract

Introduction. The problems of virtual museums functioning in the socio-cultural sphere are an object of study in humanitarian interdisciplinary fields. Different approaches to such phenomenon as “the virtual museum” are due to the fact that it is continually modified, complicating the development of a theoretical concept, which makes this issue especially relevant. The purpose of the article is to consider the virtual museum as a new model of communicative culture in the context of museum pedagogy prospects. Materials and methods. The materials and methods of the research are based on the analysis of virtualisation processes applied to the modern museum space as a new model of communicative culture. The methodological basis is represented by the theory of museum communication, the theory of representation of cultural memory (“memory studies”) as well as methodological aspects of museum pedagogy as a topical socio-cultural practice. The research is based on the classical methods (analysis, synthesis, generalisation) and the use of cultural-historical, competence- and activity-based approaches. Results. The growing popularity of the museum in the digital era, according to the authors, is connected with the modification of the museum space and transformation of museum functions as a new model of communicative culture. Owing to network technologies, a number of new museum communications have emerged. The museum has turned from a depository and display of artefacts of the past into an open interactive space engaging visitors in a dialogue and interaction, which actualises the use of virtual museum resources in the educational process of schools and universities. The processes of transformation of the museum as a social institution and a new model of communicative culture in the conditions of digitalisation are in the research field of representatives of various humanities (Russian and foreign). This makes it possible to hold an interdisciplinary discussion based on the new communicative functions of the museum and to determine the real prospects of museum pedagogy. Conclusion. The study helps to identify the further ways of exploring the virtual museum as a new model of communicative culture and the specifics of its impact on further development of museum pedagogy as an important structure of media education, i.e. the teaching and educational process at schools and universities in the digital age. © 2023 LLC Ecological Help. All rights reserved.