ARTH 494: The Museum

ARTH 494-001: The Museum
(Spring 2027)

04:30 PM to 07:10 PM R

Horizon Hall 1009

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Section Information for Spring 2027

This course will examine the history of the art museum and the issues surrounding art museums today. We will consider the origins of art collections and public viewing of them, and consider the museum as a political and social entity. What are the stakes in collecting, displaying, and viewing art? What purposes do museums serve, and for whom are they intended? How has the history of the art museum affected and shaped the institution we know today? How are museums changing and what will they be like in the future? We will also consider some of the practicalities of work in a museum, from the conservator to the registrar, from the curator to the educator, and we will look at some of the issues museums face today, such as repatriation, forgeries, and funding. Assessments will be based on short writing assignments, a final paper, participation in class discussion and presentation of a research topic. 
 
This course will examine the history of the museum as an institution from its origins among semi-private collections to its emergence as a highly visible global practice. How and why did museums come into being? What ideologies guide their priorities and what audiences do they serve? In addition to considering the historical development of the museum, we will also explore the complex issues that these institutions generate. Questions of nationhood, repatriation, forgery, and funding will guide our analysis. This is an online course, so content will be delivered through videos and readings. Assignments will consist of multiple writing assignments. The course will require a museum visit.

Course Information from the University Catalog