About
Ariana Curtis is an anthropologist and curator who uses material culture to uncover the untold stories of marginalized communities. As the Curator of African American and African Diaspora Collections at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, she has pioneered new approaches to representing underrepresented narratives. Curtis' insightful keynotes weave together ethnographic research, personal anecdotes, and visual media to challenge audiences to reckon with the complex legacies that shape our world.
Talks1
Museums should honor the everyday, not just the extraordinary
Who deserves to be in a museum? For too long, the answer has been "the extraordinary" -- those aspirational historymakers who inspire us with their successes. But those stories are limiting, says museum curator Ariana Curtis. In a visionary talk, she imagines how museums can more accurately represent history by honoring the lives of people both extraordinary and everyday, prominent and hidden -- and amplify diverse perspectives that should have always been included.
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