Museology in the 21st century (decoloniality and multiculturalism) 3105-LMXXI-SP
The course will examine concepts of decoloniality and multiculturalism within the context of museums worldwide. It will address the historical and social contexts shaping museums across different regions, as well as the ways in which colonialism, nationalism, and cultural hegemony have influenced museum collections, exhibitions, and practices. Students will also explore alternative museum models and practices, along with the specificities of provenance research regarding non-European collections.
Teaching methods:
Seminar with multimedia presentation.
Course coordinators
Type of course
Prerequisites (description)
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, the student:
K2_W04 possesses organized, in-depth, and detailed knowledge of museology, leading towards specialization
K2_W05 possesses detailed knowledge of contemporary achievements and research schools, covering selected areas related to museological theories, decoloniality, and multiculturalism
K2_W06 possesses in-depth knowledge of fields and disciplines related to art history, enabling the integration of perspectives specific to several academic disciplines
K2_U01 is able to search for, analyze, evaluate, select, and integrate information regarding museology and decoloniality from various sources, and to formulate critical judgments based on this information
K2_U05 is able to construct substantive arguments – incorporating both their own views and those of other authors – independently formulate conclusions and critical statements, and create synthetic summaries
K2_U10 is able to apply language skills meeting the requirements for level B2+ of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
K2_K01 is able to appropriately set priorities for the execution of tasks defined by themselves or others
K2_K03 is able to translate projects into professional activities—whether in research, museology, or exhibition-making—by thinking entrepreneurially and acting for the common good
K2_K04 correctly identifying and resolving
dilemmas associated with professional practice; understands
the necessity of adhering to ethical standards in the work of a museum-based art historian and in the popularization of knowledge regarding museology
Assessment criteria
Assessment method:
Written test with open-ended and closed-ended questions.
Possession of electronic devices during the exam is prohibited. Any attempt to use external software—including AI—is treated as a gross violation of the ethical principles governing how students obtain course credits and pass exams. The use of unauthorized aids (e.g., notes, mobile phones, smartwatches or other information-accessing devices, headphones, consulting with others, checking others' answer sheets, or tampering with exam materials) during the exam will result in the immediate termination of the exam or assessment for the student in question and the assignment of a failing grade.
Grading criteria:
To pass, a student must obtain 60% of the points on the written test.
99 – 100% 5! (excellent)
93 – 98% 5 (very good)
87 – 92% 4+ (good plus)
77 – 86% 4 (good)
71 – 76% 3+ (satisfactory plus)
60 – 70% 3 (satisfactory)
Bibliography
C. Ariese, M. Wróblewska, Practicing Decoloniality in Museums, Amsterdam 2021.
Ch. Gosden, E. Edwards, R. B. Phillips (red.), Sensible Objects. Colonialism, Museums and Material Culture, Oxford New York 2006.
D. Hicks, The Brutish Museums: The Benin Bronzes, Colonial Violence and Cultural Restitution, Pluto Press 2020.
K. Pomian, Muzeum. Historia światowa, Warszawa 2023.
A. Procter, The Whole Picture: The colonial story of the art in our museums & why we need to talk about it, Cassell 2020.
H. Schreiber, Koncepcja "sztuki prymitywnej". Odkrywanie, oswajanie i udomowienie Innego w świecie Zachodu, Warszawa 2012.
N. Sonoda (red.), New Horizons for Asian Museums and Museology, Singapore 2016.