Middlebury

HARC0366A-F23

Exhibiting African Art

Exhibiting Africa: History, Theory, and Praxis
In this seminar, we will explore the (im)possibilities of representing Africa’s arts in museums. Through readings, images, websites, discussions, and museum visits, we will survey Euro-America’s shifting valuation of artworks from Africa from the late 19th century to the present and the implications for installation and interpretation. We will consider recent curatorial strategies to address the challenges of representing African art in museums, examining the categories of contemporary vs. “traditional” art, questions of authenticity, the art market’s influence on museum collections, issues of provenance and repatriation, and efforts to decolonize the museum. Culminating in an imaginary exhibit, the course probes the past and the present to introduce students to the theoretical and practical aspects of museology.
Course Reference Number (CRN):
92731
Subject Code:
HARC
Course Number:
0366
Section Identifier:
A

Course

HARC 0366

All Sections in Fall 2023

Fall 2023

HARC0366A-F23 Seminar (Lenius)