Chabot College
Fall 2009
Course Outline for Art History 51
MUSEUM STUDIES
Catalog Description:
51 – Museum Studies
(May be repeated 3 times.)
4.5 units
Museum history, theory, and practice. History and theory components are lecture-based; practice
component involves hands-on instruction in museum and gallery skills, culminating in the hanging
of the Chabot student art show. Held in the Chabot Art Gallery with one to two field trips to local
museums, galleries and/or historical societies. (Formerly ART6; may not receive credit if ART 6
has been completed.) 3 hours lecture, 5 hours laboratory.
[Typical contact hours: lecture 52.5; laboratory 87.5]
Prerequisite Skills:
None.
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon completion of this course the student should be able to:
1. chart the history of museums from their origins in antiquity through their evolution as
medieval wunderkammern and princely collections to the modern public, municipal museums
of today;
2. articulate past and current theories of the political role of museums in light of challenges
posed by multiculturalism, technology, gender issues, globalization, the free market, etc.;
3. discuss specific watershed exhibitions from the distant and recent past and their impact on
contemporary museum theory and practice;
4. differentiate the duties of various museum professionals in meeting the museum’s social,
political, aesthetic and cultural missions;
5. demonstrate basic museum-specific skills such as art handling, curating, registration,
exhibition techniques, and interpretive label and wall text writing;
6. demonstrate familiarity with the operations of museums, galleries and historical societies,
including the accreditation process
7. advocate for the importance of museums as guardians of history and culture.
Lecture Content:
1. The history of museums from their origins in antiquity through their evolution as medieval
wunderkammern and princely collections to the modern museums of today
2. Changing theories of the political role of museums in light of multiculturalism, technology,
gender issues, globalization, the free market, etc.
3. Case studies of specific watershed exhibitions and their impact on contemporary museum
theory and practice
4. Duties of various museum professionals in meeting the museum’s social, political, aesthetic
and cultural missions
5. Operations of museums, galleries and historical societies, including the accreditation process
6. The importance of museums as guardians of history and culture.
Lab Content:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Art handling
Basic curating
Artwork registration
Exhibition techniques
Interpretive label and wall text writing
Chabot College
Course Outline for Art History 51, Page 2
Fall 2009
Methods of Presentation:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Lectures
Discussion
Guest speakers
Field trips
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
1. Typical Assignments
a. Prepare a summary of the reading and deliver it orally to the class
b. Write an essay on a museum visit
c. Undertake a task required for hanging the exhibit
2. Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
a. Participation in discussions
b. Quizzes
c. Lab work
d. Written assignments
e. Final examination
Textbook(s) (Typical):
Reinventing the Msuem: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives on the Paradigm Shift. Gail
Anderson, editor. Altamira Press, 2004.
The Birth of the Museum: History, Theory, Politics. Tony Bennett. Routledge, 2003.
The Manual of Museum Exhibitions. Barry Lord and Gail Dexter Lord. Altamira Press, 2001.
These are the best and most recent texts in the museum studies field.
Special Student Materials:
None
DZ g\Curriculum2006\Arth51
Revised: 12/1/08