APY 389LEC—World Museums, World Views

Museums are sometimes seen as irrelevant places where ancient objects languish in obscurity. However, in recent years, many museums have been recognized as community hubs which address key social issues and confront our colonial past, in order to transform how we see the future. Museums have the power to reflect and shape our society. This course examines the intersection of anthropology and museum studies, and the theoretical approaches that have been introduced to reconcile the study of culture and how it is presented to public audiences. This course will pay close attention to a few core debates that have shaped and continue to influence the museum field today. Students will explore audience development and exhibit curation, with special focus on the creation and presentation of culture and “the other” around the world. Class assignments and assessments will be based on weekly readings, in-class discussions, visiting local (in-person) museum exhibits and international virtual museums.