London Museums: Introduction to British Museology, Society & Culture

This course is an introduction to museology and museums as reflections of the British psyche and unique cultural constructs that help us understand 'Britishness'. This is a field-study intensive course with visits to different museums, from the famous and vast 'global' British Museum to the small and privately-owned Saatchi Gallery to help understand how they operate by exploring different types of museums.

Study of the museums considers and analyses the ways in which imperialism and its legacy, as well as Britain's global relationships have influenced museum development and how this gives rise to the politics of patrimony. This includes looking at questions of cultural appropriation and the political debate on repatriation versus protection, the impact of the Classical period on British society in the past and present, its importance to class and education in Britain, and how this is reflected in museum collections. Classroom material and activities are designed to evoke the critical thinking and analytical skills to better understand complex decision-making processes of conservators and restorers and their role in the museum industry, the origins of museums from individuals to trade exhibitions and current museum professionals, as well as the impact museum audiences have on the work of museums.