Gwybodaeth Modiwlau
Module Identifier
MG20110
Module Title
Material Culture Studies
Academic Year
2013/2014
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 2
Other Staff
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 10 |
| Seminars / Tutorials | 2/2 x 1 hour |
| Practical | 2 x 1.5 hour workshops |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Essay or Object Study | 60% |
| Semester Assessment | Object Study | 40% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. critically use and interpret objects to understand how they relate to human endeavour
2. employ skills learned to describe, evaluate and interpret artefacts
3. question our notions of authenticity and faith in the authority of the museum
Relation to Assessment
- Object Study(1,2,3), Essay (2,3) The object study is the principal means by which students are able to demonstrate their understanding of objects in relation to history and society and their ability to interpret objects in their contemporary context. It provides the opportunity to apply the practical skills learned in describing, evaluating and interpreting artefacts. The essay allows the opportunity in question the relationship between objects, museums and society within a theoretical and conceptual framework
Brief description
This module examines the importance of material culture in our understanding of people in society. The status of objects as evidence of history and cultural experience is analysed against changing attitudes towards the study of objects from the antiquary to antiquarian and art historian. Special attention will be paid to modes of classification and existing models for Object Studies. The legal and ethical issues arising from collecting and collections are also explored
Aims
1. to introduce theories and methodologies of artefact study
2. to examine the place and role of museum objects in the creation and expression of culture
3. to consider how artefacts accumulate meaning as time passes
4. to study collecting and collections in both historical and contemporary contexts
5. to provide experience in the identification and interpretation of objects through a hands-on approach
2. to examine the place and role of museum objects in the creation and expression of culture
3. to consider how artefacts accumulate meaning as time passes
4. to study collecting and collections in both historical and contemporary contexts
5. to provide experience in the identification and interpretation of objects through a hands-on approach
Content
The Course:
- Historical Perspective from Antiquary to Antiquarian and Art Historian
- The Real Thing: the Status of Objects as Evidence of History and Cultural Experience
- Objects in Structures: the Social Life of Objects
- Modes of Classification: the Imposition of Meaning in the Museum
- Methodologies: Models for Object Study
- Examination of the Existing Models
- Writing an Object Study
- How to Describe an Object
- Legal and Ethical Issues arising from Collecting and Collections
- Fakes, Copies and Forgeries
Transferable skills
1 Independent project work
Two Object Studies
2 IT and information handling
Word Processing
Database Information Retrieval
Internet Search
3 Use and analysis of numerical information
None
4 Writing in an academic context
Two Object Studies (essay equivalent)
5 Oral discussion and presentation
Seminars
Tutorials
Presentation
6 Careers need awareness
The module is specifically for students considering a career in museums, art gallery administration, public art organisations, freelance curators and exhibition organisers, and in private galleries.
7 Self-management
Course Work
Seminar Preparation
8 Group activity
Seminars
Workshop
Two Object Studies
2 IT and information handling
Word Processing
Database Information Retrieval
Internet Search
3 Use and analysis of numerical information
None
4 Writing in an academic context
Two Object Studies (essay equivalent)
5 Oral discussion and presentation
Seminars
Tutorials
Presentation
6 Careers need awareness
The module is specifically for students considering a career in museums, art gallery administration, public art organisations, freelance curators and exhibition organisers, and in private galleries.
7 Self-management
Course Work
Seminar Preparation
8 Group activity
Seminars
Workshop
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Communication | 5 Oral discussion and presentation * Seminars * Tutorials * Presentation 6 Careers need awareness * The module is specifically for students considering a career in museums, art gallery administration, public art organisations, freelance curators and exhibition organisers, and in private galleries. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | .6 Careers need awareness * The module is specifically for students considering a career in museums, art gallery administration, public art organisations, freelance curators and exhibition organisers, and in private galleries. .7 Self-management * Course Work * Seminar Preparation |
| Problem solving | .1 Independent project work * Two Object Studies .2 IT and information handling * Word Processing * Database Information Retrieval * Internet Search .3 Use and analysis of numerical information * None |
| Research skills | .4 Writing in an academic context Two Object Studies (essay equivalent) ? Seminars ? Workshop |
| Team work | .8 Group activity * Seminars * Workshop |
Reading List
Daniel J Sherman & Irit Rogoff (eds.) (1994) Museum Culture, Histories, Discourses, Spectacles Routledge, London Primo search Dick Hebdige (1988) Hiding in the Light, On Images and Things Comedia & Routledge, London Primo search George W Stocking Jr (1992) The Ethnographers Magic and Other Essays in the History of Anthropology The University of Winsconsin press, Winsconsin/London Primo search I Karp & S D Levine (1991) Exhibiting Cultures. The Poetics and Politics of Museum Display Routledge, London Primo search James Clifford (1988) The Predicament of Culture: Twentieth-Century Ethnography, Literature and Art Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass & London Primo search James Deetz (1996) In Small Things Forgotten, An Archaeology of Early American Life Anchor Books, Doubleday, New York Primo search John Elsner & Roger Cardinal (eds.) (1994) The Cultures of Collecting Reaktion Books, London Primo search L Buck & P Dodd (1991) Relative Values: or What Art's Worth BBC Books, London Primo search Nicholas Thomas (1999) Possessions, Indigenous Art Colonial Culture Thames and Hudson, London Primo search Paul du Gay, Stuart Hall et al (1997) Doing Cultural Studies; the Story of the Sony Walkman Sage Publications & The Open University, London Primo search Peter Vergo (ed.) (1989) The New Museology Reaktion Books, London Primo search Raphael Samuel (1994) Theatres of Memory Verso, London & New York Primo search Susan M Pearce (1992) Museums, Objects & Collections Leicester University Press, Leicester Primo search Susan M Pearce (ed.) (1997) Experiencing Material Culture in the Western World, Leicester University Press, London & Washington Primo search Susan M Pearce (ed.) (1989) Museum Studies in Material Culture Leicester University Press, Leicester and London Primo search Susan M Pearce (ed.) (1996) On Collecting Leicester University Press Primo search Susan Stewart (1993) On Longing, Narratives of the Miniature, the Gigantic, the Souvenir, the Collection Duke University Press, Durham & London Primo search Thomas Schlereth (ed.) (1982) Material Culture Studies in America American Association for State and Local History Primo search Umberto Eco (1995) Faith in Fakes, Travels in Hyper-reality Minerva, London Primo search
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 5