Art History 601
Intro to Museum Studies I and II: Exhibiting Africa — From Theory to Practice

This two-semester seminar (open to seniors and graduate students) explores both the theories and the practices of representation in a museum setting. Fall semester AH 601 begins with broad discussions about different museum approaches and methods before focusing on putting such theoretical concerns into practice in researching, writing, and planning for a Spring 2002 exhibition of selections from the Elvehjem's growing collection of African art. The Spring semester AH 602 seminar will continue the work of the Fall course in researching, writing, editing a catalogue, preparing wall texts, labels, and other exhibit materials, participating in the concept and design of the installation, planning and implementing the opening, publicity, and programming for the exhibition, etc. Students, especially those interested in museum careers, are strongly encouraged (but not required) to take both 601 and 602. Both qualify for seminar credit and include a variety of writing assignments -- research paper, catalogue entries, exhibit reviews, object labels, wall texts, press releases, etc.