Collections Research Practicum in Cultural Anthropology

Abstract

This course introduces students to collections research and exhibition content. The goal is to engage students in independent research and provide opportunities for them to think critically about collection and interpretation of anthropological items in museums. Using museum collections, the students use anthropology collections to gain skills in primary and secondary research, collections, and object research and narrative story development for exhibitions of anthropological material culture. The class is open to undergraduate and graduate students and has no prerequisites. Many of the students are museum and field studies students intended to be museum exhibit developers, collection manager, and/or educators. The course is both independent study and group projects planned for 16 weeks. The assignments and readings follow closely the SIMA graduate program, including a major research project about an item or group of items. Additionally, the students produce a group-curated public exhibition in the museum's anthropology hall. The outcomes must meet three different audiences and in different media: 1) the discipline of museum anthropology; 2) general audience; and 3) museum goers of all ages.