rethinking the total museum: from concept to practice

The paper analyzes the Total Museum (Museu Integral - Musée Integral) as a core question for debate in the field of Museology, as well as the different approaches and narratives developed around this concept. Starting from the idea of Museum as phenomenon, it unveils convergences and divergences between the theoretical matrixes that found the concepts of 'total museum', 'community museum' and 'ecomuseum', and the proposals and realizations of a museum practice devoted to the social sphere. It comments the tendency to consider the Declaration of Santiago as a myth and as an ideological matrix; and proposes a revision of the role and significance of the Santiago Roundtable, as well as of the recommendations consigned in it, for the development of museum theory and practice – analyzing their consequences and applicability in the policies and goals of Museology at global level, specially in Latin America. It emphasizes the need of research and deeper analyses of the relationships between museum theory and practice in Latin America, which may update the mentioned concepts under the light of the contemporary epistème and according to the world key strategies for culture, heritage and development. Finally, it presents the concept of Inclusive Museum – theoretical matrix, synchronized with the ethics and thoughts of Museology in the present days