Exhibits distort meaning when a stray biographical detail becomes an exhibit

Evidence

I give above an absurd and extreme instance in the domestic world. But some years ago I visited a very fine historic house, lovingly arranged and maintained. It had been the home of a famous author. Somewhere, during a journey abroad, the author had written a single comment: “This evening we all went to the circus.” Based upon that single clue there was included among the exhibits a miniature circus. It was a very neat and charming little circus. But what possible place had it in the house? Had the author’s youth been spent as a trapeze performer with Barnum, it would have been true to the biographical picture. This is diffusion. — Freeman Tilden, Interpreting Our Heritage, 500

Categorization

• QUESTION: What is the right criterion for when a charming biographical artifact legitimately belongs in a historic house? Tilden says ?true to the biographical picture? but leaves that standard vague.
• XREF: connects to: Self-presentation fails when small stylistic details betray an intended identity — Lyn H. Lofland, World of Strangers_ Order and Action in…, 618; A profile substitutes recognition for detail and draws an incomplete picture by definition. — Moustafa Bayoumi, How Does It Feel to Be a Problem? Being…, 43

Broader Connections

• A profile substitutes recognition for detail and draws an incomplete picture by definition. #expands (0.95) — Moustafa Bayoumi, How Does It Feel to Be a Problem? Being…, 43
• Self-presentation fails when small stylistic details betray an intended identity #expands (0.85) — Lyn H. Lofland, World of Strangers_ Order and Action in…, 618