Preventive Care of Photographs

This subject is not offered in 2014.

Total time commitment 120 hours

Admission to the Postgraduate Certificate in Arts (Photographic Materials Conservation)

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For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject examines the physical and environmental causes of deterioration of photographic, and film material, and how these can be mitigated. Areas of study include biological attack, chemical pollutants, light exposure, fluctuations and extremes of relative humidity and temperature, physical stresses, vandalism, natural and human caused disasters. Students will examine a range of enclosures, and storage options for photographs, film and digital material. Students will become familiar with current industry standards.

Upon completion of this subject students should:

• be able to demonstrate asound knowledge and understanding of preventative conservation principles, methodologies and best practice standards,
• act as informed advocates for cultural material conservation,in particular photographic conservation, and play a leadership role within the sector, actively engaging in criticalpolicy issues,
• apply critical and analytical skills andmethods,and a cross disciplinary understanding and approach,to the identification andresolution of photographic conservation issues,
• be ableto identify preventative conservation strategies for photographic collections,
• be able to critically evaluate the literature in this field.

A 1500 word literature review worth 30% of total mark (due during the intensive teaching period) and 3500 word research essay worth 70% of total mark (due at the end of semester)

Hurdle requirement: students must attend a minimum of 75% of workshops/tutorials in order to pass this subject. Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 2% per day; after five days, no late assessment will be accepted. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

Lavedrine, Bertrand, 'A Guide to Preventative Conservation of Photographic Collections' (The Getty Conservation Institute,2003)

Additional course notes and reading material will be supplied.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.