"Hemliga museer" : En studie kring museers representation av erotiska samlingar

Sammanfattning: Purpose – This thesis investigates why archaeological museums tend to have a separate section for erotic and/or sexual objects. The aim is to understand why these rooms are needed and if they are considered outdated in the year 2020. Three case studies will be discussed in this thesis: Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli, Altes Museum, and Museo Arqueológico Rafael Larco Herrera. Analysis – The qualitative data collected through interviews will be analyzed and presented in case studies. I apply two theories: power theory according to Michel Foucault and Clive Grey and queer theory. Method – To answer my questions, I interview museum workers responsible for the erotic display from the three case studies. All museums have a separate exhibition regarding erotic objects, so-called "secret museums". Methods that have been in use is qualitative method together with phenomenology. Findings – The findings show that the phenomenon “secret museum” was born in the mid-1700s when Pompeii and Herculaneum were excavated and several objects with erotic motives were found. Today several archaeological museums exhibit these objects in separate rooms, sometimes with restrictions. When these exhibitions were first formed only educated men were allowed to enter. It was considered that the objects would be misunderstood by the lower class and even hurt the relationship between men and women if women were to be exposed to pornography. The results from the three case studies show that people are still sensitive to objects regarding erotica or sexualities and that the separate area is for the visitors to choose if they want to enter or not. The result also shows that there is a respect for the history around this phenomenon and the rooms are in themselves museology history that needs to be preserved.  Paper type – Two years master's thesis in Museum and Cultural Heritage studies.