ANT 1970 - INTRODUCTION TO MUSEUM STUDIES

credits: 3.0
ANT 1970-HIS 1970 CO-REQUISITE Courses. What constitutes a museum? How do museums work both as organizations as well as spaces? How do we understand the life of a museum collection and what does its growth and evolution tell us about the role of the museum in a community? These are just a few of the questions we will explore in this course. This course examines the history of museums and their role in modern society through readings and site visits. These site visits will be an opportunity for students to both approach a variety of museums from the perspective of a visitor (viewer-learner) and from that of a curator (performer-teacher). The intent of this dual perspective is to introduce students to the concerns and forms of professional museum work as well as developing critical skills for understanding the role of museums and how museum spaces function as historical and social phenomena. These visits will range from exploring Elmira College’s own art collection to local and regional museums, from small historical sites and parks to major specialized collections such as the Corning Museum of Glass. Objectives: A) Outline the history of museums and their changing role in society; B) Discuss and analyze museum spaces; C) Construct a realistic museum exhibition by applying what they have learned from the readings, discussions, and site visits; D) Evaluate the organization, structure, intent, and quality of a museum, a gallery, and an installation; E) Identify the variety of activities that a museum carries out. Method of Instruction: In class: lecture, discussion, and activities; Site visits: expert tours-lectures, projects. Method of Evaluation: Participation: spontaneous and directed 30%; Reading and site written response/projects: 30%; Final Project: development, construction, presentation of a realistic museum exhibition 40%. Meets *WEP Distribution Requirement. COURSE FEE: TBA.

Co-Requisite(s): ANT 1970-HIS 1970 Courses.