ART 320 History of Museums and Collections
A museum is defined by the International Council of Museums as a “permanent institution in the service of society and of its development, open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates, and exhibits the tangible and intangible heritage of humanity and its environment for the purposes of education, study, and enjoyment.” This upper-level course introduces students to the history of public and private museums and collections; it invites students to compare these collections. Through readings and field trips, guest lectures and class discussions, students gain exposure to fine and decorative art collections; scientific, archaeological, botanical, zoological, historical, and heritage collections (e.g., the Museum of Natural History, the Museum of the American Indian); museums of the communication arts (film, television, video, and digital); as well as mobile and virtual collections. They will study and compare the history of collectors and patrons, from the ancient Romans, to the Italian Renaissance aristocrats and clergy, to the speculators of the present-day. Finally, they will grapple with some of the complex moral and ethical issues concerning art law, property rights, and current debates on the restitution of treasured works of art.