Prospectus

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Cultures of Exhibiting

Course
2024-2025

Admission requirements

There are no additional requirements.

This course has replaced the course Curating Cultures (2022-2023).

Description

This course focusses on the concept and history of exhibiting: the collecting and display of, as well as the caring, for researching and interpreting of (cultural) objects. Objects from culture and nature, artworks, material and immaterial heritage, are all kept in museums and collections. They are taken care of but they are also displayed, and this can happen and has happened 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)? What role do objects and their material qualities play in the creation and experience of exhibitions? In this course we will study the past and recent practices of exhibiting, 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 / display / audiences

Course objectives

In this course, students learn to:

  • understand curating practices including the role of the curator, the object and the audience.

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

  • understand underlying exhibiting structures, narratives and canon formation.

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

  • understand historical and contemporary exhibition practices on the basis of the case-studies.

  • understand ongoing socio-cultural debate in the field of curating/exhibition display.

Timetable

The timetables are available through My Timetable.

Mode of instruction

Lecture

Assessment method

Assessment

  • Mid term assignment (written)

  • Final exam (written)

Weighing

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

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

The final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average. To pass the course, the weighted average of the partial grades must be 5.5 or higher.

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 have to 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 announced on Brightspace.

Registration

Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website.

Registration À la carte education, Contract teaching and Exchange

Information for those interested in taking this course in context of À la carte education (without taking examinations), eg. about costs, registration and conditions.

Information for those interested in taking this course in context of Contract teaching (with taking examinations), eg. about costs, registration and conditions.

Contact

  • For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.

  • For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Arsenaal

Remarks

N/A