25/S2 ANTH 4453 A - Special Topics: Museum Anth.

In this class, you will be introduced to the history and concept of museums and archives and how archival and artifactual materials are handled and curated in institutions dedicated to their care. Discussions will look at issues such as the tensions that arise from restricting access to artifacts and historical records, the colonialist practice of removing artifacts and art works from their communities and/or countries of origin, and the move by many Indigenous and underrepresented peoples to manage and repatriate their own material culture. We will look at what anthropologists do with their data and artifacts once they are out of the field by understanding legislation and best practice, and we will consider how the ethics of procuring and housing data have changed through time. Practical curatorial skills will be developed through visiting and partnering with curatorial institutions to solve real-world issues through a class curation project.