Museums, Objects, Spectacles

This subject is not offered in 2008.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject traces the historical development from the 19th century of Western practices of exhibiting cultures, ranging from the public spectacles of monarchy to international expositions, with a focus on material culture and the role of museums. Students should develop an understanding of the role of emergent disciplines (eg. ethnography) and technologies (eg. photography) in authorising and popularising exhibits of 'other' societies, particularly in the context of European imperialism and postcolonialism; the politics of collecting; concepts of tradition and nostalgia in public representations of the past; the exhibition of indigenous peoples; the ways collecting and exhibiting practices create and maintain ideologies of racial, class and gender differences; and new technologies and the 'virtual museum'. A range of visual and written texts, methodologies and theoretical frameworks will be examined, and the subject includes field trips to museums and guest lectures from curators.

Information Not Available

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• demonstrate research skills through competent use of the library and other information sources;

• show critical thinking and analysis through recommended reading, essay writing and tutorial discussion, and by determining the strength of an argument;

• demonstrate understanding of social, ethical and cultural context through the contextualisation of judgements, developing a critical self-awareness, being open to new ideas and possibilities and by constructing an argument.

Formerly available as 131-290/390. Students who have completed 131-290 or 131-390 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.