This module will equip students with the historical, theoretical, and practical knowledge necessary for studying museums. Through visits to ten of London’s most important institutions, the module will examine the development of museums from Renaissance ‘cabinets of curiosities’ to the modern ‘white cube’ gallery space. We will analyse the techniques and practices museums use to collect, organise, and display their objects; we will consider the messages museums send through their architecture, patronage, and methods of display; and we will delve into some of the most important issues affecting museums today like decolonisation, repatriation, and social impact. Aside from the introductory class session, the entire module will take place off campus with every seminar group visiting a different museum each week.
