Studiegids

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Understanding the archives

Vak
2014-2015

Admission requirements

-

Description

This seminar provides the student with an overview of archival thinking and archival practices. The concept of ‘archive’, which is a concept in motion, is in the forefront. The selected literature discusses the various functions of an archive in society, provides an overview of the recent developments in archival thinking and archival practices and gives insight into the relationship between archives creation on the one hand and the different uses of archives on the other.

A number of books and articles are selected to provide the student with an overview of the various meanings of the archive and the different lines of approach in archival science. Students explore the various, sometimes conflicting, functions of archives in society. In the discussions much attention is paid to contested aspects of archiving like archives as instruments of (colonial) power, archives as cultural heritage and appraisal and selection, which even got a new dimension because of digitisation. We will extensively discuss the debates that take place with respect to the theory and practices of archives as tools of power, heritagization of archives and appraisal and selection of archives? What are the effects of the selecting mechnisms on the ability to understand archives and for the study of history? What are the effects of digitization on creation and use of historical archives?

Course objectives

  • The ability to analyze and evaluate literature and sources for the purpose of producing an original scholarly argument

  • Insight into the social relevance of history and archives

  • Knowledge and comprehension of archiving in a colonial context; insight into the significance of archiving processes for the way in which a society deals with its documentation heritage in general and its historical practice in particular; disclosure, including digital disclosure, of archives as part of the broader heritage sector;

  • Knowledge and comprehension of the theoretical, conceptual and methodological aspects of the theoretical foundations of archivistics; assessment and selection of archives;

Extra course objective voor ResMA students

  • Knowledge and comprehension of the theoretical foundation of the discipline and of its position vis a vis other disciplines

Timetable

Timetable History

Mode of instruction

  • Seminar

Course Load

Total: 280 hours

  • Lectures and seminars: 28 hours

  • Compulsory literature and weekly assignments: 182 hours

  • Paper, including research: 70 hours

Assessment method

  • The ability to give a clear written report on the research results in English or Dutch: essay

  • The ability to give a clear oral report on the research results in English or Dutch: presentation

  • The ability to provide constructive academic feedback: weekly assignments (blogs)

  • The ability to engage with constructive academic feedback: weekly assingnments (blogs)

  • The ability to analyze and evaluate literature and sources for the purpose of producing an original scholarly argument: weekly assignments (blogs), essay

  • Insight into the social relevance of history and archives: essay

  • Knowledge and comprehension of archiving in a colonial context; insight into the significance of archiving processes for the way in which a society deals with its documentation heritage in general and its historical practice in particular; disclosure, including digital disclosure, of archives as part of the broader heritage sector: literature reviews, essay

  • Knowledge and comprehension of the theoretical, conceptual and methodological aspects of the theoretical foundations of archivistics; assessment and selection of archives: essay

For the ResMa students:

  • Knowledge and comprehension of the theoretical foundation of the discipline and of its position vis a vis other disciplines: weekly assignments (blogs) and essay

Assessment and grading method (in percentages):.

  • essay 40%

  • weekly assignments (writing blog): 15%

  • writing of 2 literature reviews: 30%

  • oral presentation 15%

To complete the final mark, please take notice of the following:
The final grade for the course is established by determining the weighted average.

Reexamination: If the final grade is unsatisfactory the student rewrites the essay and delivers one new literature review

Blackboard

Blackboard is used for this course:

  • Weekly assignments posted via blogs on blackboard and following feedback

  • Essay is posted on Blackboard

  • Literature reviews

Reading list

As handbooks are used:

  • Terry Eastwood and Heather MacNeil (eds) Currents of Archival Thinking (Santa Barbara-Denver-Oxford 2010)

  • Jennie Hill (ed) The future of archives and recordkeeping. A reader (London 2011).

  • Other reading materials will be made available via blackboard

Registration

via uSis

Contact

dhr. Prof.dr. K.J.P.F.M. Jeurgens