| Unit name | Museums and Heritage: Critical Perspectives |
|---|---|
| Unit code | ARCH30048 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Were |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Department of Anthropology and Archaeology |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Museums were once understood as dusty mausoleums but are now some of the most creative and exploratory public spaces. This unit introduces interdisciplinary perspectives on the museum and on heritage: from museum origins and the growth of heritage, to their social function in contemporary society. It covers diverse contexts and perspectives through which the museum and heritage can be understood in anthropology and archaeology, from issues of power and knowledge to social agents and contact zones. It explores various themes raised by museums and heritage sites including: communities and participation, architecture and branding, cultural rights and property, memory and repatriation, and the rise of digital culture.
The unit will provide students with a detailed understanding of some of the social, political, and historical contexts in which museum and heritage institutions operate, and will prepare them towards careers in this sector. It will include site visits and some film screenings.
Aims:
1. Introduce the field of critical museum and heritage studies as an interdisciplinary area of study
2. Explore the various definitions and typologies of museums and heritage
3. Examine the historical context of museums and the heritage
4. Provide an understanding of the theoretical approaches to the functions of museums and heritage sites
5. Compare and contrast different approaches to museums and heritage sites through case studies and visits
6. Analyse and assess critically advances in museum and heritage research
7. Provide students with an understanding of the contexts in which museums and heritage institutions operate, and prepare them for a career in this sector
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
1. Assess how museums and heritage sites can be engaged with from an anthropological perspective;
2. Critically explore and engage with the functions and roles of museums and heritage, including exhibitions and programmes;
3. Demonstrate detailed understanding of the historical development of museums and the rise of heritage;
4. Analyse the contemporary politics of museums and heritage and their links to politics and society;
5. Demonstrate critical understanding of the theoretical approaches to the functions of museums and heritage sites;
6. Compare and contrast different anthropological approaches to museums and heritage through case studies;
7. Analyse and assess critically advances in museum and heritage research;
8. Demonstrate an understanding of the knowledge and skills required for a career in the museum and heritage sector.
Weekly lectures/seminars which include time for group work and collaborative tasks: The task will involve collaborative work focused on a particular museum / heritage exhibit (not for credit)
2 x half-day (on site or self-guided) fieldtrips
Essay, 3000 words (100%) [ILOs 1-8]
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. ARCH30048).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
