93151 - Museum Studies (Lm)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will have studied museum history from being an institutional container for a collection, up to the idea of the modern archaeological museum with its complex organization. They will know the rudiments of museum theory, legislation and marketing. By studying museum methods and practices they will have the tools and methodologies to design an exhibition, or translate a "museum idea" (Museum, exhibition or archaeological park) into concrete reality, bearing in mind the cultural, display and communication aspects. Finally, they will have the analytical tools to monitor the flow of visitors. They will be able to apply the theoretical-scientific concept of Museology, in its various meanings and multi-functional sense, to the complex problems related to public enjoyment of the Archaeological Cultural Heritage. They will be able to take part in a critical debate on the subject, based on their own direct experience. Finally, they will profit by knowledge derived from monitoring the flow of visitors to improve their own powers of curatorship.

Course contents

Course description

This course aims to provide students with theoretical knowledge on museum studies, as well as the necessary practical skills to work with or in the museum sector. It is designed to prepare students both to the responsibilities they will overtake or/and to the academic work they will produce during their professional career. Therefore, the course is divided into three modules, organized in lecture and seminar sessions with readings and discussions based on case studies from all over the word.

The first module provides a theory-based introduction to the museum sector and the research field of critical museology. It will introduce students to the history of museums in a global context, to the different types, functions and characteristics of museums, as well as to the current debates on the definition of a museum.

The second module is dedicated to the new stakes and challenges of the museum in the 21^st century. It will familiarize students with the current debates surrounding curatorial activity and museum management, and on their concrete effects on museum practices. The course will focus on collections display, conservation issues, and on exhibitions or events planning and design.

The last part of the course is conceived to provide students with concrete tools to think specifically about the publics of museums, and to implement adapted strategies to relevantly interact with them inside and outside of the museum.

‣ Learning outcomes:

By the end of the course, students will:

• have a good overview of the global museum history and be able to define the types, characteristics and functions of museums;
• be familiar with theoretical-scientific concept of museology in its various meanings and multi-functional sense;
• be able to apply the theoretical-scientific concept of Museology to the complex problems related to public enjoyment of the Archaeological Cultural Heritage;
• be familiar with the current theoretical debates within the museum world and be able to engage with them based on case studies;
• have a good knowledge of museum legislation, ethics, marketing and communication;
• be familiar with the diverse type of audience of the museum and be able to understand, reach and measure them; and have the analytical tools to monitor the flow of visitors.
• have the concrete tools to translate a "museum idea" intro reality: to plan and design an exhibition or as to organize outreach activities within the museal context.

 

Topics of the classes:

I. The World of Museums: Definitions and Histories

November 11. What is a museum? Questioning definitions

November 12. What is a museum? Questioning definitions II

November 18. Critical Introduction to Museology

November 19. Critical Introduction to Museum History

II. Curatorial Practices: New Stakes and Perspectives

November 25. Decolonizing Museums

November 26. Decolonized Museums? Collecting, Conserving and Exhibiting in the 21st century

 

Afternoon: Introduction to museography

Visit of the Museo Civico Archeologico

December 2. ONLINE CLASS! Museum Economies: Stakes, Development & New Strategies

December 3. CLASS FROM 9am TO 1pm

 Curating Exhibitions and Programming Events in Museums: A Tool Kit

Afternoon: Introduction to museography

Visit of the Museo Civico Archeologico

III. Museums and Andiences

December 9. Museum and their Publics. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

December 10. Towards the Emotional and Empathetic museum

December 16: NO CLASS.

December 17. Debate

Assessment methods

Students are expected to:

- actively participate during the course, including debates, asking and answering questions, readings and presentations (20%)

- Write a personal paper, based on your experience of visiting a museum, analyzing it from a critical perspective, based on your knowledge of museology and museography acquired during the class. Presenting the museum and the exhibition, emphasizing the challenges faced by the curator(s), and their place within the current global debates (40%)

- Put into practice what you learn during the course about curating and organizing an exhibition, including the direct impacts of museology’s recent development. Conceive a group project "Our Ideal Exhibition" including philosophy and relevance of the project, list of objects, public analysis, presentation of the project (SWOT, retro-planning), communication plan, cultural programming (40%)

An explanatory note on the specific requirements of each assessment is available on Virtuale.

 

 

Teaching tools

Course material

A reader containing all the required articles and book extracts for the courses as well as an extended bibliography, methodology documents and main sources used during the semester will be available two weeks before the start of the course on the Virtuale platform.

Office hours

See the website of Julie Charlotte Deschepper