Interpreting Exhibitions (ACUR90005)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
| Availability | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject will examine the various strategies employed by museums and galleries to frame the objects and ideas in their care and in order to communicate to the public about them. It will consider how these display strategies have changed over time, but its principal focus will nonetheless be on current exhibition and display settings, from contemporary art spaces to science and natural history museums. What is the best way - if any - to frame a particular exhibition? What sorts of communications messages should curators and exhibition designers seek to convey to museum and gallery visitors? How effectively do galleries and museums communicate their ideas? What role does the public have in engaging with the objects and ideas in museum and gallery display settings? These and other questions will be asked in order to critically interrogate the idea of the exhibition as a meeting point between the institution and the public and as a site of a charged dialogue of meaning between all the players in the exhibition circuit: from the institution, to the objects and/or ideas in the institution, and on to the public who comes to engage with them. On completion of the subject students should be able to apply a range of critical theoretical, art historical and museological approaches to the study of exhibitions and displays in historical and contemporary settings.
Intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this subject, students should:
- have an understanding of how objects and ideas are communicated to the public in museum and gallery displays;
- be able to engage critically with a range of display strategies in varying display settings; and
- have developed an appreciation for a range of museological, critical theory, and art historical approaches to studying exhibitions in museums and galleries.
Generic skills
At the completion of this subject, students should gain the following generic skills:
- be able to conduct independent research using catalogued sources and bibliographical indexes;
- have developed their ability to think creatively and express their ideas clearly in written communication; and
- have developed their skills in verbal communication and oral presentation.
Last updated: 9 December 2023
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 9 December 2023
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
An exhibition analysis based on in-class presentation
| During the teaching period | 40% |
A research essay
| During the examination period | 55% |
Participation in class | Throughout the semester | 5% |
| Hurdle requirement: Students are required to attend a minimum of 80% of classes in order to pass this subject and regular class participation is expected. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Last updated: 9 December 2023
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Georgina Walker Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total 24 hours: 12 x 2 hour seminar per week throughout semester. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 3 August 2020 to 1 November 2020 Last self-enrol date 14 August 2020 Census date 21 September 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 16 October 2020 Assessment period ends 27 November 2020 Semester 2 contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 9 December 2023
Further information
- Texts
- Subject notes
Admission into one of the following is required to take this subject:
the Graduate Certificate in Arts (Advanced) - Art History or fourth year honours in Art History, Master of Art Curatorship, Master of Arts Management, Graduate Diploma in Arts (Advanced) - Art History, Master in Arts & Cultural Management, Master of Arts & Cultural Management (Moving Image), Master of Arts in Art History (Advanced Seminar and Shorter Thesis).
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Graduate Diploma in Arts and Cultural Management (Advanced) Specialisation (formal) Art History Specialisation (formal) Art History Specialisation (formal) Art History Specialisation (formal) Art History Informal specialisation PD-ARTS Art History - Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 9 December 2023