ARCH2208 The Museum

This topic examines museums as repositories of material culture as well as their place as cultural institutions. The focus will mainly be on museums involved in the representation of past human cultures in particular in Australian museums with social history, archaeology, anthropology or science and technology collections. This topic is offered in collaboration with Adelaide's museum institutions and will include a number of guest lectures by museum professionals.

This topic aims to:

• Examine and discuss in depth current and past museum theory and practice
• Address the issues associated with museums as repositories of material culture and places of historical interpretation
• Use an inter-disciplinary approach to address the role of history and archaeology in museums

1. Apply the skills of writing, editing and criticising museum text and interpretation
2. Demonstrate practical skills in exhibition development
3. Desribe the role of museums as repositories of material culture, particularly archaeological material culture
4. Appreciate the role of museums as cultural institutions in contemporary society
5. Describe the involvement of museums in the representation and re-presentation of past human cultures