Introduction to Museum Studies
Code
711061037
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
História da Arte
Credits
6
Teacher in charge
Alexandra Curvelo
Weekly hours
4
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
a) To know milestones in the history of museums;
b) To reflect on the multiplicity of the museum field and the essential aspects of its complexity;
c) To critically describe the main functions of the museums in relation to conservation, research; exhibition and communication;
d) To exercise a critical analysis of exhibition spaces.
Prerequisites
None.
Subject matter
1) The origin of the museums: the appeal of collecting. The history of the European museums: from treasures to the museums of the Renaissance and the Cabinets of Curiosities. The museums open to the public: enhancing the social role of museums; the nineteenth-century museums.
2) The renewal of museology in the twentieth century: modernity marks and postmodernism crisis. Extension of the museum concept and the new museology.
3) Current Issues: museology and heritage studies.
4) Museology and museography: from the inventory to the documentation systems; from preventive conservation to restoration; storage, permanent collection, temporary exhibitions. Museum architectures; management and communication in museums; the careers of museology and museography.
Bibliography
AAVV, Inquérito aos museus em Portugal. Lisboa: Instituto Português de museus, 2000
ALONSO FERNÁNDEZ, Luis , Museologia. Introducción a la teoria y práctica del museo. Madrid: Istmo, 1995
BENETT, Tony, The birth of the museum. London, New York: Routledge, 1995.
BOURDIEU, Pierre; DARBEL, Alain, L´amour de l´art. Les musées d´art européens et leur public. Paris: Minuit, 1969
DESVALLÉES, André; MAIRESSE, François (Dir.), Dictionnaire encyclopédique de muséologie. Paris, Armand Colin, 2011
MACDONALD, Sharon (Ed.), A Companion to Museum Studies. Blackwell Publishing, 2006
PEARCE, S. M., Interpreting objects and collections. London: Routledge, 1994
TRINDADE, Maria Beatriz Rocha (coord.),Iniciação à Museologia. Lisboa: Universidade Aberta, 1993.
Teaching method
Lectures supported by images, complemented by visits to museums and exhibitions in Lisbon.
Evaluation method
The assessment consists in carrying out a research project in one of the areas covered by the program and in a written test. The work is developed in groups (maximum of 3 students), with written and oral presentations, corresponding to 40% of the assessment. The frequency corresponds to 60% of the total evaluation.