Anthropological Perspectives on the Internal Dilemmas of Digital Exhibition in Chinese Museums

Rereading Anthropology: Theoretical Practice in Culture and Society

Abstract

A growing contradiction has emerged in museum digitalization between the public’s escalating demand for a transition from artifact appreciation to holographic experience and ultimately to cultural healing, and the uneven development of digital exhibition practices. Anthropological research offers a valuable framework for examining the underlying challenges of this trend. Using case studies and literature review, this article systematically examines digital exhibitions (both online and on-site formats) curated by Chinese museums in recent years, and draws on anthropological perspectives, including insights exemplified by Anthropology: Theoretical Practice in Culture and Society. This approach reveals core dilemmas in Chinese museums’ digital curation: an overemphasis on individual artifacts at the expense of relational contexts, a monolithic approach to representing regional cultures despite their diversity, the constrained curatorial horizons of temporary exhibitions, and a lack of multisensory engagement. Addressing these conceptual and practical dilemmas presents a critical area for professional reflection among museum practitioners. Throughout this process, anthropological theory provides an important point of reference for research and implementation.