Why museums preserve the fragile paper ephemera we keep in our pockets
In short: Paper objects like comic books and valentines often hold deep personal meaning. This episode explores the challenge of preserving these handheld items within a museum setting and the vital work conservators do to ensure they survive for the future.
Museums often house items that were never intended to last, such as cigarette cards, comic books, and valentines. These objects serve as vessels for human memories, fears, and desires, maintaining a unique intimacy because they were originally designed to be held or kept in pockets.
The episode features insights from Metropolitan Museum of Art experts, including conservator Rachel Mustalish, scholar Nancy Rosin, and curator Allison Rudnick. Together with author and artist Taz Ahmed, they examine the tension between the ephemeral nature of paper and the museum's mission to preserve these stories against the passage of time.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Paper | Immaterial | Season 1, Episode 4 #podcast
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