An experiential war history museum: For Washington D.C.

In the field of psychology, Ulrick Neisser has conducted much research to support the notion that expectations tend to dramatically effect the way people perceive particular places, events, and even entire realities (Meyer ppl82). This tendency describes what I will call psychological perspective. Psychological perspective is, in essence, the mind's location. Psychological perspective includes a person's memories, their expectations for the future, and their opinions of where they are at a particular moment both mentally and physically. Psychological perspective is the mind's representation of reality whether true or false. All people have preconceived ideas and prejudices despite the fact that preconceptions are rarely based on fact. Rather, people tend to listen to what authority figures tell them and perceive that as reality. I believe that experiences, while shocking and contradictory to people's preconceptions, can suggest or convey other realities altering the psychological perspective. Museums use exhibits to demonstrate past realities; however, traditional exhibits only display; they do not immerse patrons into the reality of the exhibit. A War History Museum presents the opportunity to manipulate psychological perspectives and recreate past realities which are often controversial or misunderstood. For example, if patrons become submersed in the exhibit, they could lose sense of their actual location and enter the reality of the exhibit, experience the terror of war, and permanently change their perception of war and it's reality. Most museums try to minimize the amount of attention drawn to the building itself. Rather than the typical strategy of disappearance, the building could actively participate in the experience of the museum creating a more saturated experience.