131-071 Museums, Objects, Spectacles

Usually 25 points of first year history, see Prerequisites.

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 (e.g. ethnography) and technologies (e.g. 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 optional field trips to museums.

Written work totalling 4000 words.

A subject reader will be available.