ABSTRACT
The Prologue is both fact and fiction, real and apocryphal, and perhaps even a fanciful disservice to the museum world in the eyes of some. There are undoubtedly museum workers who have never encountered any of the characters in this Prologue. I am comfortable with any of these reactions, as the Prologue is intended to highlight some of the uncertainties and difficulties that now directly or indirectly confront museums and galleries, whether they are the fate of collections, the psycho-politics of complex organizations, or our nearly complete separation from the natural world. Of particular note is that these difficulties and uncertainties not only originate in the world at large but are also created by museums themselves. As a result, one must cultivate a respect for uncertainty, especially with respect to the current and future role of museums as social institutions.
