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Curating Cultures

Vak
2021-2022

Admission requirements

Same as admission requirements for the BA Art History/BA Arts, Media and Society.

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 is the role of 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.

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

Course Objectives

  • Students acquire general knowledge about curating practices including the role of the curator, the object and the audience.

  • Students acquire a basic understanding of relevant theories in the field of curating/exhibition display.

  • Students acquire a basic understanding of underlying exhibiting structures, narratives and canon formation.

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

  • Students gain insight into historical and contemporary art practices on the basis of the case-studies.

Timetable

The timetables are available through My Timetable.

Mode of instruction

  • Lecture series

Assessment method

Assesment

  • Mid term assignment (written)

  • Final exam (written)

Weighing

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

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

The weighted average of the (constituent) examinations must be at least 6.0 (= a pass). The mark for all separate assignments must be at least 6.0 (= a pass). However, it is possible to compensate for one constituent examination graded with a 5.0 (but not a mark lower than 5.0) with an assignment of the same weight.

Resit

A resit/ rewrite can be done for constituent examinations which are failed. As far as applicable all resits/ rewrites take place at the same time, after the final (constituent) examination.

Inspection and feedback

How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will be organized.

Reading list

  • E. Hooper-Greenhill, Museums and the Interpretation of Visual Culture. London / New York: Routledge, 2005. Students can purchase the most recent edition of this book.

  • Further readings will be made available on Brightspace.

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

Registration Studeren à la Carte Registration Contractonderwijs

Contact

Remarks