Märit Simonsson

Märit Simonsson serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Culture and Media Studies at Umeå University, Sweden, with her office located in Humanisthuset (Biblioteksgränd 3, Room B111). Her research fundamentally investigates spatial dynamics, authenticity construction, and narrative communication within museum exhibition environments.

Her work critically examines how physical spaces shape visitor experiences, particularly regarding fictional objects (e.g., Westeros artifacts from Game of Thrones), medieval ecclesiastical art displays, and Holocaust representation. Key themes include the tension between material authenticity and fictional narratives, spatial coding in exhibition design, and methodological challenges in capturing visitor perspectives. Publications in Museum & Society and RIG: Kulturhistorisk tidskrift demonstrate interdisciplinary engagement with cultural theory and museological practice.

Analysis of her publications reveals a consistent trajectory exploring spatial materiality in museums, evolving from theoretical frameworks (2011-2012) toward contemporary applications involving popular culture (2022). Her scholarship bridges academic research and practical museum work, emphasizing how exhibition spaces actively construct meaning rather than neutrally display objects.