Introduction to Museum Studies - Instituto San Joaquín de Flores

Introduction to Museum Studies - Instituto San Joaquín de Flores

INSTITUTO SAN JOAQUIN DE FLORES
COURSE
CREDITS
HOURS
CLASS SCHEDULE
ACADEMIC TERM
START DATE AND END DATE
PROFESSOR
OFFICE HOURS FOR STUDENT
Introduction to Museum Studies
3
48 horas
DESCRIPTION
The course provides students the theoretical and methodological tools of the field of museum studies which will enable students to understand the
institutions that are custodians of the historical patrimony and heritage of the of the nation. They provide a means by which their value can be
appreciated.
The study of museums departs from their role as keepers of historical collections and evolves to study their role as entities for research of the
nation’s heritage, science and technology. Emphasis is placed on the paradigm of the new museology that emphasizes the relationship between
the museums, the public, and the community so that the conscience of a historical memory is developed in order to construct a society with more
solidarity, greater participation and inclusiveness.
In sum, the students will increase their knowledge of the diffusion of historical research provided by didactical museography, educational
communication, and museum administration of the national patrimony.
2
OBJECTIVES
To develop a general understanding of the historical development of museology and museography and their more significant trends.
Specific objectives:
1. To study museology as an interdisciplinary science in its different approaches, theoretical, conceptual and methodological aspects.
2. Understand and consider the different periods of collecting and the historical evolution of museums in the Western world, the American
continent and in Costa Rica
3. Understand, examine and consider the administration of the museological institutions charged with preservation, investigation and
communication of the patrimony, sciences and culture.
4. Understand and consider the different strategies of establish museums and communicate the national heritage.
CONTENTS
Unit I: Museology as an interdisciplinary science.
1. Origin and historical evolution of collecting.
2. Historical evolution of the concept of the museum
3. Museology as an interdisciplinary science: approaches and theoretical, conceptual and methodological aspects.
4. The new museology: concepts and museum models.
5. Origins and directions of development of the museums in Costa Rica.
Unit II: Administration in the museological institutions
1. The traditional functions of museums: investigation, preservation and communication of patrimony, science and culture.
2. The proposal for reactivation and active preservation of patrimony
3. Didactic museography: the museum exposition as a means of communication and teaching.
4. The museum as a teaching resource: programs of educational communication and cultural with a focus upon diverse types of
public.
Unit III: Patrimony and the creation of museums
1. The idea of patrimony. Nature and safeguard.
2. The protection of patrimony
3. Legislation and assessing a value to patrimony in Costa Rica
4. New technologies and the virtual administration of patrimony
5. Dynamic interaction between patrimony and responsible tourism.
3
EVALUATION
Essays on readings
Museum visits
Reports on field trips
Essays
Individual projects:
Final exam:
10%
10%
10%
10%
30%
30%
METHODOLOGY
The course is both theoretical and practical, with a dynamic relationship between the lectures in the classroom, independent study, museum visits
in Costa Rica and the understanding of the administration and establishment of museums in other countries via the internet.
In the classroom a collaborative strategy is implemented: the professor coordinates and orients the students via introductory expositions and a
synthesis of the different thematic contents.
BIBLIOGRAPHIE
Alderoqui , S. (1996). Museos y Escuelas socios para educar. Argentina, Ediciones Paidós.Corrales, F y Cubero G. De cuarteles a Museos: Los
museos y el discurso de la civilidad costarricense. IV Congreso Centroamericano de Antropología. Veracruz, marzo 2002.
Chang, G, et al. (2004). Patrimonio Cultural. Diversidad en nuestra creación y herencia . Centro de Investigación y Conservación del Patrimonio,
MCJD
De Carli, G. (2006). Vigencia de la nueva museología en América Latina: Conceptos y modelos. Revista ABRA. (33), 55-75.
Fernández, L. (1999). Museología y Museografía. Barcelona: Ediciones del Serbal
García, A. (1994). Didáctica del Museo: El descubrimiento de los objetos. Madrid: Ediciones de la Torre.
García, A (1999). La Exposición un medio de Comunicación. España: Ediciones AKAL.
Hernández, F. (1994). Manual de Museología. Madrid: Editorial Síntesis.
Hernández, F. (1998) El museo como espacio de comunicación. España: Ediciones Trea.
Herrero, P. (1997). Los Museos Costarricenses: Trayectoria y Situación actual. San José, Costa Rica: Editorial del Ministerio de Cultura Juventud y
Deportes.
León, A. (2000). El Museo. Teoría, praxis y utopía. Madrid: Ediciones Cátedra.
Murillo, C. (1975). La identidad Costarricense ante la diversidad. ¿Un reto posible? Revista de Historia, Escuela de Historia, Universidad Nacional,
Centro de investigaciones históricas, Universidad de Costa Rica, No 40.
Scharer, M. El Museo y la Exposición: Múltiples lenguajes, múltiples signos. Ex Presidente del ICOM. Discursos, Publicaciones del ICOM.
Santacana, J y Serrat, N. (2005). Museografía didáctica. Barcelona: Editorial Ariel.