Paris Part Three

   On the third and final day, we went to the Louvre. When a museum transcends its full name and can simply go by “the Louvre”, it has become renowned like very few other museums in the world. In sheer size, the 652,300 square feet defy comprehension. 

  It is truly an amazingly large museum, which allows a lot of space for a lot of objects. Nearly 35,000 objects call the Louvre home. And with so much to invite interest, it is no wonder that the Louvre is the world’s most visited museum. More than eight million visitors walk through the doors each year.

But is it possible for a museum to be TOO well-visited?

  The Louvre has been in the exact same position since the 12^th century, and although it did not open as a museum until 1793, it had been an attraction for artists for some time. What began as a residence for privileged artists studying the exceptional art the Louvre contained at the time has now turned in to a pilgrimage for the masses.

   I paid 11 euro for a ticket, and was told I could take pictures wherever I liked, in both respects different from a lot of British museums, which are free and often prohibit picture-taking. The day started off well as we had a complimentary bag check which relieved us of our heavy backpacks. However, heavy backpacks were the least of our worries.

   The Louvre was filled to bursting with people. People, coming and going everywhere—with tour guides speaking in Japanese carrying a closed umbrella aloft, school children with stressed teachers, families speaking French, Arabic, American English, Spanish, German, and British English. And those were only the languages I recognized. Everywhere, people were attempting to nudge into the next room or squeeze by you. The main hallways of the Louvre became like highways—there was no possibility of stopping and turning around could only take place in special areas.

The map of the enormous Louvre.

   Is this what a museum experience is supposed to be like?

   Obviously, it all came to a head at the Mona Lisa. A good many people visit the Louvre only to see the Mona Lisa. It seems that it would be in a constant state of crowdedness, and when we visited was no exception. Actually visiting some of the great works of art, such as the Venus de Milo and Mona Lisa—which is the original purpose of the museum—was extremely difficult. The jostling, jumbled crowd kept me firmly away from appreciating the work itself. 

  Any great museum--and the Louvre is one of the all-time greats--is going to have the problem of huge crowds wanting access to the wonderful works it contains.

  Increased crowds oftentimes decrease the quality of experience for the individual museum-goer. I definitely experienced this in the Louvre more than any other museum. Why do I tolerate in the Louvre what I would never in most American museums?

Because of the Mona Lisa.

Because of the Estruscan sarcophagus.

Because of the Egyptian boat.

Because of the sphinx.

   In short, I believe that the eight million yearly visitors to the Louvre put up with the jostling and crowdedness not to appreciate the object, but to see the renowned. This is a departure from the tradition of the museums we tour today.

   We learned in our Mississippi State seminar class that the cabinet of curiosities was a precursor to the modern-day museums. In the earliest days of collecting, these objects struck wonder in the eye of the beholder. In examining the object, the museum-goer was to be filled with awe; to be inspired and to cause marvel.

   In this sense, the modern museum, such as the Louvre, has experienced an evolution. It does not seem to be an evolution within the museum, for the amazingly beautiful objects remain on display. They are the same as they nearly always have been. 

  I believe, after spending the day at the Louvre, that the evolution of the museum has more to do with the people who are visiting it. In an obvious way, the people are responding to an exterior force: there are so many visitors ALL wanting to see the Mona Lisa. Anyone who desired to spend more than a few seconds near the railing closest to that painting would be considered rude and unpleasant. There is hardly time for awe-inspiring feelings as you look upon the masterpiece for a few moments before cramming and snaking your way out of the crowd.

   But I think another aspect is the general education throughout the western world. Education has often taken on an element of consumerism, and it is this element that is effecting the way we approach great museums like the Louvre. We are approaching the museum experience as consumers. Instead of digging into the meaning of a piece of art and finding a true appreciation for it, the crowds combine with our educational background and convince us to find the most famous works held within the museum "so we can say we saw them".

  I loved the Louvre and everything we were able to see...and it definitely has me thinking on the evolution of the museum. What is behind it? Is it the sheer magnitude of the museum, the smothering crowds, or the consumerist-style educational system? Perhaps it is a mixture of all.

  Either way, a trip to the Louvre is worth the possibility of being overwhelmed. It is an amazing museum to visit, and no matter what, you have to brave the crowd and smirk at the Mona Lisa.