Behave Yourself! (Or Not)

Ever since childhood, Art Gallery’s and museums were a solemn place. A quite place. A place of respect and contemplation.

I have never questioned that, and I would be hesitant to take my toddlers to an art museum (unless it was curated for kids) for fear of them disrupting that silence.

The thing is - maybe that whole attitude is not really necessary, or is resulting in a lose of part of the art experience.

Art, arouses reactions and emotions, and if it doesn’t - its not very good.

Without disrespecting the art and the other visitors, shouldn’t it be OK to express some of those feeling, even in a little way, in a museum?

would that necessarily make us disrespectful, or is joy less appreciated and appreciative than somberness?

I am asking all of this since I ran into a blog Called Jumping in Art Museums, which is full of people from all over the world doing just that.

I understand why You need to “behave yourself” in art museums and galleries, so as not to disturb the other viewers, and not to go overboard and harm the art… But the question I am asking here is more philosophical - Why, once again, do joy and happiness get the back seat while somberness seriousness and a touch of sadness get to lead once again.

Photo credit creative commons license tais