2023/24 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

ARTF5255M History and the Museum: Representation, Narrative and Memory

30 creditsClass Size: 40

Module manager: Dr Mark Westgarth
Email: m.w.westgarth@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2023/24

Co-requisites

ARTF5670M

Museum, Object, Practice

Module replaces

ARTF5250 Object, Building, Text

This module is not approved as an Elective

Objectives

This module introduces students to the ways in which Western museums have represented and interpreted history and historical material. The module directs student attention to the dialectic between history and the museum and the role of the museum as a 'frame' for history and historical knowledge. The module considers the writings of historians, philosophers, curators, architects and cultural theorists, focusing on a broad conception of the 'museum', including art galleries, de-industrialised 'heritage', and the City as 'museum'. Texts considered include key writings by Hume, Burke, Carr, Walsh, Habermas, Foucault, White, Barthes, Bourdieu, de Certeau, Maleurve, Samuels, Rancière and Jencks. The aim of the module is to introduce students to the key theoretical texts that we repeatedly encounter in the bibliographies of museology and museum studies and to consider the history of museums in relation to questions of philosophy of history, the constructions of identity and role and function of the museum in the historical representation of culture and society.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module students will have:

An increased understanding of the relationships between the museum and historical representation.
An increased understanding of the history and development of museums and their collections.
An increased understanding of the historical role and function of the museum in society.
A critical awareness of the history of the representational and interpretative strategies of the museum.

Skills outcomes
Skills necessary to undertake higher a research degree and/or employment in a higher capacity in an area of professional museum practice.

Syllabus

Week 1: HISTORY and THE MUSEUM
Week 2: HISTORY in THE MUSEUM I
PLACE, SPACE, HISTORY I - 'THE ABBEY' & 'THE STREET'
Visit to Kirkstall Abbey & The 'Victorian Street' at Abbey House Museum
WEEK 3 : HISTORY in THE MUSEUM II
PLACE, SPACE, HISTORY II - 'THE ABBEY' & 'THE STREET'
Week 4: HISTORY in THE MUSEUM III
Ordering the Museum/The Classification of Objects :
Focus on The Metropolitan Museum, New York, The National Portrait Gallery, The Victoria and Albert Museum and The British Museum.
Week 5: HISTORY of THE MUSEUM I
Hume, Burke : Taste and the Formation of the museum and art exhibition in the Eighteenth Century
Week 7: HISTORY of THE MUSEUM II
The Emergence of the Public Museum in the Nineteenth Century
Week 8: HISTORY of THE MUSEUM III
The Post-Modern Museum and the City
Visit to Hepworth, Wakefield
Week 9: THE POST-MODERN MUSEUM AND THE CITY –
Student Presentations.
Week 10: MUSEUM, CITY, HISTORY
Visit to Manchester: Manchester City Art Gallery, People’s History Museum and the Imperial War Museum North
Week 11: Revision and Module Review

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Seminar	10	3.00	30.00
Private study hours			270.00
Total Contact hours			30.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			300.00

Private study

Students are given an extensive reading list with required set readings for each week, and suggestions for further readings. It is envisaged that students will undertake c.10 hours per week for the set readings, with further research using the university libraries to broaden their understanding. Online learning will include interaction with the VLE, through the discussion forum and making use of the online materials. Research and composition of assessed and non-assessed assignments will also involve independent research, with guidance from module tutor.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students will be assigned 1 small-group class presentation (non-assessed) to be delivered in week 9, and based on specific readings and themes arising from the module. Students will also be required to submit one (non-assessed) 1,500 word written piece by week 7, for which written feedback will be returned, together with an indicative grade. The seminar teaching format also ensures ample opportunity for discussion and testing student comprehension and progress. The development of the final essay assignment will be supported through group and peer discussion in class sessions, and through individual meetings with the module tutor. Attendance monitoring.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	5000 word essay	60.00
Assignment	1000 word project report	40.00
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: 28/04/2023 14:37:32

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