MIDIATIZAÇÃO E TRANSFORMAÇÃO DIGITAL NO MUSEU DE ASTRONOMIA E CIÊNCIAS AFINS
(MAST) DURANTE A PANDEMIA DE COVID-19: UM ESTUDO DE CASO NO BRAS
Mediatization; Covid-19; MAST; Digital Technologies; Virtual Environment.
The rise of the digital age and the COVID-19 pandemic have catalyzed
profound changes in museums, driving their migration to the online
environment. Prior to the pandemic, partial digitization was already underway,
but the need for survival during the pandemic period transformed digital
technologies into indispensable tools. The pandemic highlighted financial
challenges, significant layoffs, and the need for cultural heritage preservation.
Museums were forced to rethink their practices and adopt media technologies
to maintain contact with the public. Both external and internal communication
were enhanced, with the educational sector playing a crucial role in maintaining
connections with audiences. Online actions were developed, including
educational and scientific dissemination content about COVID-19. A notable
example of this phenomenon is the Museum of Astronomy and Related
Sciences (MAST), which intensified its online activities during the pandemic,
offering a variety of educational and scientific content to the public. This
transition to the digital environment underscored the crucial role of technology in
cultural heritage preservation and communication with contemporary audiences.
MAST's performance during this period also provides a unique opportunity for
further investigation into mediated communication environments and the
processes of mediatization that occurred. Studying MAST's experience during
the pandemic has provided valuable insights into how museums can adapt and
thrive in an increasingly digitized world, while also offering important lessons
about the importance of innovation and resilience in times of crisis.