Standing in Two Worlds Looking at an Art Exhibition: Sense-Making in the Millennial Generation

Abstract

Reported is a study that focused on the Millennial Generation and potential differences in viewing an exhibition in person versus online. The exhibition featured the artwork of Paul-Henri Bourguignon, whose extensive body of work includes a variety of paintings and drawings that employ a wide range of styles. Some viewers traveled to the physical space of a museum gallery, while others viewed reproductions of the same works on the Internet. Informants engaged in reflexive self-interviews using Dervin's Sense-Making Methodology. The authors compare viewers’ responses to works experienced in person versus online and discuss implications.

Keywords:

• art education
• audiences
• digital media
• Millennials
• museums
• narrative
• qualitative research
• sense-making