AIM736 - Museums, Heritage and Society
Unit details
| Year | 2025 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Online Trimester 2: Online |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 1: Helen Walpole Trimester 2: Helen Walpole |
| Prerequisite: | Nil |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | AIM701, AIM721 |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | 4 x 2.5-hour on-site lectures/practical experience (field trips) per trimester 4 x 2-hour online seminars per trimester |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment: | Online independent and collaborative learning activities including 4 scheduled online seminars |
| Typical study commitment: | Students should plan to spend around 8-10 hours per week on the combined activities of reading, working through the exercises, library research and preparing assignments. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site. |
Content
The use of the past in the present has become a key debate within contemporary society. Contestations over representations of the past by/in museums, critiques of the power of heritage to legitimate particular world views, debates about multiculturalism and social inclusion, all bring concerns over social/communal identity to the fore. Through concepts such as text, representation, and performance, the unit aims to explore the history and contemporary nature of heritage practices and institutions showing how we can apply theoretical concerns to the understanding and management of museums and cultural heritage. It introduces key definitions and ideas, many of which are explored in more detail in other units of the program. Central is the concept that 'cultural heritage' may apply to objects, places and traditions, whether managed by museums, national parks, urban planning schemes, tourism attractions or a host of other environments.
Learning outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the history of museum and heritage institutions | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO2 | Critically analyse the politics and poetics of representations and apply these with creativity in professional practice, and communicate using digital technologies | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication GLO3: Digital literacy GLO5: Problem solving |
| ULO3 | Critically analyse and evaluate key concepts that reflect the interdisciplinary of the field | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO4 | Critically reflect on the varied contexts in which heritage practices occur and the varied communities whom they represent | GLO4: Critical thinking GLO8: Global citizenship |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: Essay | 2000 words | 40% | Week 6 |
| Assessment 2: Presentation | 3000 words | 60% | Week 11 |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for AIM736 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Unit Fee Information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.