Admission requirements
Admission to the MA Arts and Culture: Museum Studies / Art History, research master Arts, Literature and Media.
Students of the Humanities faculty who are interested and who are not enrolled in the Master Arts and Culture should contact the education coordinator in order to enroll. NB: This is only possible in case there are available spots.
Description
This module seeks to provide students with both the theoretical and practical knowledge needed for conducting art historical research for an exhibition in a museum setting. It will help students develop essential curatorial skills, including how to research art and artefacts, and understand how their display in exhibitions can add new meanings and values.
This module has been developed in collaboration with ZKM | Museum of Contemporary Art ( Karlsruhe), one of the world's most important collections of media art, from the 1960s to today. Their collection offers unique challenges and opportunities, and it will allow students to engage with the latest curatorial debates on media arts and digital technologies. The museum will provide access to its archives and collections and research groups will benefit from support from the ZKM staff.
Through a combination of workshops, lectures, and excursions, this module will offer both academic rigor and professional skills training. It will support students to further develop their reading and writing skills, refine their research practices by working directly with primary sources, and engage in contemporary curatorial debates. Students will develop these skills through collaborative work within research teams.
Course objectives
Students will:
learn about current issues and controversies concerning curating media arts;
be able to understand and critically analyse media arts collections;
gain theoretical knowledge in media arts, curatorial and museum studies;
practice communicative skills in weekly debates and in the presentation of their own research topic;
develop research skills in formulating a relevant research question, conducting art historical research using primary sources, and developing an exhibition concept.
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
Seminar
Excursion
Attendance is compulsory. Students are allowed to miss a maximum of two seminars, provided they present a valid reason beforehand. Students who have missed more than two seminars will have to apply to the Examination Board of the MA Arts and Culture in order to obtain permission to further follow and complete the course.
Assessment method
Assessment
Active participation and assignments (pass/fail);
Presentation (20%);
Portfolio (80%).
Weighing
The final grade is the average of the two marks (20% and 80%).
The final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average. To pass the course, the weighted average of the partial grades must be 5.5 or higher.
Resit
The re-sit can consist of one or two parts:
When a student fails their portfolio, the resit is a paper (80%).
When a student fails their oral presentation and/or active participation and assignments, the resit assessment involves alternative assignments (20%).
Inspection and feedback
How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.
Reading list
Readings will be made available via Brightspace.
Registration
Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website
Registration À la carte education, Contract teaching and Exchange
Information for those interested in taking this course in context of À la carte education (without taking examinations), eg. about costs, registration and conditions.
Information for those interested in taking this course in context of Contract teaching (with taking examinations), eg. about costs, registration and conditions.
For the registration of exchange students contact Humanities International Office.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Arsenaal.
Remarks
- Fieldtrips and guest lectures are an important part of the course. Students will be expected to make visits to museums and libraries.