AR123-4-SP-CO:
Introduction to Heritage and Museum Studies

The details
2023/24
Philosophical, Historical, and Interdisciplinary Studies (School of)
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
Monday 15 January 2024
Friday 22 March 2024
15
27 September 2023

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

BA V351 Curating,
BA V352 Curating (Including Year Abroad),
BA V353 Curating (including Placement Year),
BA V359 Curating (Including Foundation Year),
BA V35B Curating (Including Foundation Year and Year Abroad),
BA V305 Curating with Politics,
BA V306 Curating with Politics (Including Foundation Year),
BA V307 Curating with Politics (including Placement Year),
BA V308 Curating with Politics (including Year Abroad),
BA V309 Curating with History,
BA V310 Curating with History (Including Foundation Year),
BA V311 Curating with History (including Placement Year),
BA V312 Curating with History (including Year Abroad),
BA VV40 Art History, Heritage and Museum Studies,
BA VV41 Art History, Heritage and Museum Studies (Including Foundation Year),
BA VV42 Art History, Heritage and Museum Studies (including Placement Year),
BA VV43 Art History, Heritage and Museum Studies (including Year Abroad),
BA V301 Curating, Heritage and Human Rights,
BA V302 Curating, Heritage and Human Rights (Including Foundation Year),
BA V303 Curating, Heritage and Human Rights (Including Placement Year),
BA V304 Curating, Heritage and Human Rights (Including Year Abroad),
BA V200 History and Heritage,
BA V201 History and Heritage (Including Foundation Year),
BA V202 History and Heritage (including Placement Year),
BA V203 History and Heritage (including Year Abroad)

Module description

This module provides an introductory overview to the field of heritage and museum studies and explores some of the conceptual, political and ethical issues faced by those working within and researching in the area of heritage and museums.


The module defines heritage, discusses how heritage is officially recognised, and presents the instruments that are used to interpret, protect, and communicate heritage, at local, national, and international levels. It also introduces the main aspects of museum studies, explainshow the definitions of museums has changed through time and how this definition affects how we preserve and present heritage today.

Module aims

The aims of this module are:



  • To provide students with knowledge of some of the key theoretical issues relating to heritage studies

  • To encourage students to interact and to engage critically with theoretical texts relating to the study of heritage.

  • To develop students' skills of analysis and interpretation of cultural heritage.

  • To analyse the role heritage and museums play in the formation of identity at local, national and international levels.

  • To analyse the various waysthe concept of heritage is utilised in heritage interpretation, education, the media and tourism.

  • To stimulate students to develop skills in oral and written communication through debates, an essay, and an examination.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:



  1. To demonstrate a sound knowledge and grasp of a number of key theoretical texts relating to the study of heritage.

  2. To speak and write articulately about theoretical issues relating to the study of heritage.

  3. To analyse and interpret cultural heritage.

  4. To relate their analyses and interpretations of cultural heritageto theoretical literature.

  5. To approach theoretical literature in a critical fashion.

Module information

This module will introduce you to the history of heritage and museum management and will lay the foundation of some of the conceptual, political and ethical issues of the heritage and the museum field. It defines heritage as a process in which people makes sense of the past, in the present and for the future and how the aims of heritage and museum management changes according to the heritage process and its contexts.


Topics include



  • Introduction to heritage.

  • Heritage management: the role of local, national, and international bodies.

  • History of Museums: from private collections to public spaces.

  • Heritage and the Visual Arts.

  • What is inclusion in heritage and museum studies?

  • Critical Approaches to post-colonial Heritage.

  • Threats to heritage.

  • The reconstruction of lost heritage: between forgetting and remembrance.

  • The protection of our Natural Heritage.

  • Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Development.

Learning and teaching methods

This module will be delivered via:

  • One 2-hour combined lecture and seminar per week.

There will be a Reading Week.

Bibliography

This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   1500-word essay  21/03/2024  100% 
Practical   Outline presentation     0% 
Exam  Main exam: In-Person, Open Book, 120 minutes during Summer (Main Period) 
Exam  Reassessment Main exam: Remote, Open Book, 24hr during September (Reassessment Period) 

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
50% 50%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
50% 50%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr William Carruthers, email: william.carruthers@essex.ac.uk.
PHAIS General Office - 6.130; arugadmin@essex.ac.uk.

 

Availability
Yes
Yes
Yes

External examiner

Dr Dominic Paterson
University of Glasgow
Senior Lecturer in History of Art / Curator of Contemporary Art
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 22 hours, 18 (81.8%) hours available to students:
2 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
2 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

 


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