Brief summary of the media text with emphasis on the presence of the museum and/or museum professional
This episode focuses on Ross Geller, who works at a natural history museum. While working on a caveman display with a colleague, his ex-wife visits him and tells him she is pregnant with their child. At the end of the episode Ross gets to see a sonogram of his baby.
What is the role of the museum and/or museum professionals in the media text of your choice? Note down 2-3 specific examples.
The museum: Since it is the second episode of the series, the museum’s role in this episode is to provide character development for Ross who is a main character on the show. It allows the audience to learn more about Ross’ academic and professional
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Note down 2-3 examples.
Ross is represented as smart, but socially awkward, and a bit clumsy. While other characters on the show crack jokes, Ross himself is usually the joke via situational humor and slapstick comedy. For example:
• At the museum, he is working on a display of cave men and accidentally knocks off one of the cavemen’s arms. At this point in time, his ex-wife arrives and he awkwardly hugs her with the fake arm.
• When at the OBGYN, Ross touches one of the fetal models on display which falls apart as Ross stumbles to catch the pieces.
Ross’ colleague is portrayed as a biased museum professional because of the way she has staged the cavemen display. She gave the cavemen display a backstory where the cavewoman was unhappy because the caveman was underappreciative of the cavewoman’s work at home. The scene implies that she was letting her own experience in the present alter her view of the past.
Can you identify at least one museum myth?
1. The idea that museums provide an objective view of the past, as illustrated by Ross’ conversation with his colleague in which he argues that her interpretation of the cavemen display was