History of Collecting and Exhibiting (1500-present)

Course Objective
1. You acquire knowledge on collecting and exhibiting, as well as on (living) collectors and collecting institutions and are able to connect this knowledge to longterm developments in the history of collecting and exhibiting.

2. You gain insight into relevant current debates and theories.

3. You get familiar with the many layers of meaning within an object as primary source in historical research.

4. You gain insight into the agents that shape meaning and the ever changing significance of collected objects.

5. You gain insight into the many ways how to get across this layered meaning in exhibitions.

6. You get familiar with the acquisition and deaccessioning of museum objects.

7. You are able to apply your newly acquired knowledge on theory and experiences in a blog post.

Course Content
Throughout history, private and museum collections have reflected the shifting perceptions the collectors had of themselves and of the world around them. What was the nature of knowledge at different moments in time, for instance with respect to the body, to one’s own and other cultures, and how did changes in such knowledge systems come about? By focusing on interrelated themes such as (1) research and classification; (2) collecting science; (3) travelling and exploration and (4) the institutionalisation of collecting, we will discuss the contingently changing realities of museums and collections. In turn, the modes of collecting, organizing and displaying influenced the way the public thought about themselves and their culture.

By means of an introduction, you are asked to bring your own object to reflect on its meaning and your message to future generations. A private collector, who will be invited to the introduction seminar, will do the same on his collection. During the following sessions looted art from the World War II will be discussed, as well as the shifting perception on material culture from former colonies. The process of the creation and subsequently appropriation of heritage will be illustrated with examples through time. The cause, benefits and drawbacks of the recent distinction between material and immaterial heritage will be explored and finally contemporary collecting and the question on authority is addressed: who decides what becomes, is and remains heritage?

Teaching Methods
Lectures, seminars, fieldwork in the 'Atlas on customs, traditions and habits in the Netherlands', excursions.

Type of Assessment

Participation 20%

In order to gain as much of this course and of each other, every student is asked to participate constructively in the sessions. Help to create a lively discussion, and if applicable bring out forgotten but important points and relevant questions. This will make up 20% of the final grade.

Final exam 50%

The exam consists of two parts: an individual presentation during the last session, and a text handed in a week later. The presentation is about an object of choice and contains a detailed description of the object, it’s history and an analysis of its multiple layers of meaning. Finally the presentation needs to address the way you would like to exhibit the object and why. The PowerPoint (or Keynote or Prezi) needs to be uploaded in Canvas two days prior to the final session.

The text is a proposal for either the acquisition or deaccession of this object. This text should contain around 2000 words (+/– 10%), and handed in two weeks after the presentation. This assignment (presentation and text) will make up 50% of the final grade. An external expert in the field, Drs. Natalie Dubois, curator at the Centraal Museum Utrecht, will join this session to have an objective view.

Re-exam

The grading runs from 1-10. If a student’s grade for the final exam is below 5.5 points they are obliged to improve the written text of the final exam within an month. If your grade is higher than 5.5 points, you can still take a re-exam.

Remarks
This course is obligatory in the second year for students of History with a 'Heritage studies: histories, memories, spaces'- specialization. For them this course is a prerequisite for the second year course 'World
Heritage & Conflict, and the third year course Research Seminar Heritage and Public History. The course is complementary as well to the MKDA-course 'Exhibition Machines' and also welcomes MKDA-students (minor). For international exchange students at BA2 or BA3 level a basic knowledge of (art) history is required.