Prospectus

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Curating Cultures

Course
2016-2017

Description

This course focusses on the concept of curating: the caring for, researching and interpreting of (cultural) objects. Objects from culture and nature, artworks, material and immaterial heritage, these are all kept in museums and collections. They are taken care of but they are also displayed, and this can happen in innumerable ways: in exhibitions, different displays of the permanent collection, dioramas, temporary displays, workshops, websites, etc. These displays all communicate something, a certain message, underlying ideas and concepts, narratives, and canons.

What then is an exhibition and what are the exhibition agents? What is a curator? What role does the curator play and what the audience(s)? In this course we will study the changing roles of past and recent practices, ways of displaying and curatorial practices, narratives and canon formation. Introductions into relevant theories and practices will alternate with in-depth case-studies. Special attention will be devoted to the experimental exhibition ‘Multiple Modernities’ (Centre Pompidou, Paris 2013-2015), which aimed to look beyond an Eurocentric focus and presented modern art worldwide.
Keywords: curating / curator / objects / exhibitions and / audiences.

Keywords: curating / curator / objects / exhibitions / audiences.

Course Objectives

  • General knowledge about curating practices including the role of the curator, the object and the audience.

  • Basic understanding of relevant theories in the field of curating/exhibition display.

  • Basic understanding of underlying exhibiting structures, narratives and canon formation.

  • Insight into how exhibitions and displays are created (selection processes, technical and practical conditions).

  • Some insight into modern and contemporary art practices on the basis of the case-studies.

Timetable

Please note: for the final schedule refer to Collegeroosters / Timetable BA Art History on the Art History website.

Mode of instruction

  • Lecture series

Course Load

Course load in summary: 5 ects (140 hrs)

26 hrs: Attending lectures (2 hrs weekly x 13 weeks)
26 hrs: Lecture preparations (reading texts)
20 hrs: Preparing mid term assignment
64 hrs: Exam preparation (reading, writing abstracts etc.)
04 hrs: Exams
—-
140 hrs

Assessment method

  • Mid term assignment (written): 40% of final grade.

  • Final exam (written): 60% of final grade.

Compensation: If one of the grades is at least a 5.0, it may be compensated by the other grade in order to pass the course.
Re-sit: one re-sit per insufficient mark.

Blackboard

Blackboard will be used for announcemnets, course materials and communication.

Literature

  • E. Hooper-Greenhill, Museums and the Interpretation of Visual Culture. London / New York: Routledge, 2005. See Blackboard for further reading materials.

Registration

Via uSis.

General information about uSis is available in English and Dutch.

Exchange and Study Abroad students, please see the Study in Leiden website for information on how to apply.

Registration Studeren à la Carte and Contractonderwijs

Sign up for Studeren à la Carte
Sign up for Contractonderwijs

Contact

Mw Prof.dr. C.J.M. Zijlmans
en
Mw. Dr. M.A. Leigh

Remarks

N.a.