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2020/21 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

ARTF5011M Jewish Museums and the Display of Cultural Difference

30 creditsClass Size: 10

Module manager: Dr Eva Frojmovic
Email: e.frojmovic@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2020/21

Module replaces

ARTF5039M From Chagall to KitajARTF5038 Modernity and the Jews

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

Museums are increasingly conscious of the need to be socially inclusive. Traditional models of privileging high art and 'white western' art have come under sharp criticism. On this module, we will examine how museums have integrated (or failed to do so) the artefacts of the Jewish minorities in Europe and the USA. We will look at the historical reasons for the omission of Jewish culture from many museums, and the particularities of the models adopted for Jewish museums and Jewish exhibits in ethnographic and local history contexts. Topics will include: - From West End to East End: Identity politics at the Anglo-Jewish Historical Exhibition of 1887- The Whitechapel exhibition of 1906- Exhibiting Jews and the problem of race at the World Fairs- Early Jewish Museums- Living in a museum: the architectural, spatial and material culture of the Jewish communities of Venice, Prague and Amsterdam between Renaissance and Modernity- Gender and material culture- Virtual spaces: the lost synagogues of Eastern Europe and strategies of reconstruction- Museums and politics in Israel.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should:
- have a clear and critical understanding of the ways in which major developments in museum culture have impacted on the study of the architectural and material culture of Jewish minorities in Europe;
- be able to analyse the historical reasons for the omission of Jewish culture from many mainstream art museums, and the particularities of the diverse models adopted for Jewish museums and Jewish exhibits in ethnographic and local history museums worldwide;
- be able to research and write a presentation and an essay on particular sites of Jewish museum and material culture, and relate them to significant concepts learned during the module.

Learning outcomes
- Verbal and written fluency in constructing a logical and coherent argument.
- Co-ordination and dissemination of a range of historical, contextual visual information
- Using bibliographies and databases.


Syllabus

Themes covered over the course of the semester may include the following:
- The politics of the museum
- Before Jewish museums: temporary exhibitions of Jewish religion and history
- The birth of the Jewish Museum: Museums and Identity
- Class and immigration – a very British context
- Immigration and race – USA
- Jewish Museums and modernity: post-holocaust politics and identity construction in Germany
- Jewish Museums and modernity: post-holocaust politics and identity construction in France
- Jewish Museums and modernity: post-holocaust politics and identity construction in Eastern Europe
- Towards/beyond Multiculturalism?

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Seminar103.0030.00
Private study hours270.00
Total Contact hours30.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)300.00

Private study

Private study will include substantial seminar preparation and essay research and writing by means of reading and, where appropriate, field visits. This private study will be expected to make up the difference between taught elements and the total study hours.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Regular in-class presentations and mid semester assignment.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
Essay5800-6000 words85.00
Essay800-1000 words literature review15.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 10/08/2020 08:33:45

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