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HA3021 Approaches to Art History (B) Collecting, displaying and interpreting art

Module Coordinator: Dr Philip McEvansoneya
Lecturers: Staff of the Dept of History of Art and Architecture
Duration of the Module: HIlary term
Contact Hours: 1 lecture per week and 1 seminar per fortnight
Weighting: 5 ECTS
Assessment: Coursework (two essays)

This module will examine the history and growth of public collections, the architectural housing of those collections and the evolution of display practices, especially in Ireland. It will also raise issues of cultural property.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course students should be able to:

  • identify and analyse the chronology and geography of the emergence of the public museum and evaluate the origins, influence and status of the principal national and international institutions
  • describe and evaluate the ways in which the main modes of display used in museums and galleries have evolved and give examples of recent practices
  • explain the roles of museums and galleries in creating and mediating the cultural significance of works of art
  • define and explain the concept of the canon and the reasons why works may be sought by collectors
  • show a good awareness of the issues surrounding the concept of cultural property