Admission requirements
See M.A. Art History program guide and Exam regulations.
Description
The course aims at analyzing and understanding the different meanings and uses of anatomical collections and preparations. Historical anatomical collections are not only relevant in a medical context, but are part of our cultural heritage. They literally embody historical ideas on the makeup and working of the body. These ideas cannot be separated from their cultural, social and intellectual context. Anatomical collections, in other words are an important tool for studying the history of the body. In this course we focus on the Leiden anatomical collections (now housed in the LUMC and the Museum Boerhaave) and we will tackle questions such as: How do anatomical preparations embody ideas on the body? What was the makeup of collections as a whole? How do ideas on aesthetics match medical ideas on the body? How do the meanings of preparations change as time goes on? How were the anatomical collections used by various audiences? How did the collections function in the public domain?
Course objectives
The student can demonstrate an understanding of key texts on material culture, museum studies and the history of anatomy and anatomical collections;
The student can analyze and understand anatomical preparations in the context of contemporary ideas;
The student is able to participate in discussions on the meanings of anatomical objects;
The student can present his findings in an essay and presentation at the end of the course.
The student has gained exhibition skills with reference to anatomical preparations.
Timetable
Three day-seminars in November, dates to be announced (see timetable on website Art History)
Mode of instruction
seminar
Assessment method
The student is expected to write an essay and to present his/her findings in a presentation at the end of the course.
Blackboard
Announcements and literature will be made available via blackboard.
Reading list
Literature will be made agailable via blackboard. Key texts are (no need to read or buy in advance):
- Cunningham, A. (2010). The Anatomist Anatomis’d. An Experimental Discipline in Enlightenment Europe (Farnham).
- Daston, L. (2004). Things that Talk. Object Lessons from Art and Science. (New York).
- Elshout, A.M. (1952). Het Leidse Kabinet der Anatomie uit de Achttiende Eeuw (Leiden).
- Hopwood, N. (2002). Embryos in Wax. Models from the Ziegler Studio (Cambridge).
Registration
Students have to register for this course in uSis, the registration system of the university: http://www.usis.leidenuniv.nl. General information about registration in uSis you can find here in Dutch and in English.
Exchange and Study Abroad students, please see the Study in Leiden website for information on how to apply.
Contact information
Remarks
In the MA specialization Museums and Collection this workshop complements the MA course Cultures of Collecting by focusing on the Early Modern Period beyond specialist art collections and from a perspective of collecting and the humanities in general. Together with the course Museum Matters which covers the modern period, this workshop-course guarantees an allround specialist perspective on Museums and Collections.