Truncheons and Tea Sets: Two Narratives of Dissent in the Museum

In this research, I address how dissent can be represented in the museum, in particular through its material culture. My research is based on two case studies, the suffragettes display in the Museum of London and the temporary exhibition Disobedient Objects at the V&A. I examine the complex relationships between the museums and social movements, the conditions enabling and limiting the capacity of material culture to convey history, and the negotiations of narratives within the museum.