Studies in the history and theory of the rhetorics of place, space, and sites.

*This course is taught in collaboration with Anthony Graham, Senior Curator of the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA), as part of UC Berkeley's Discovery Initiative. What is a museum? What, or whom, is it for? What ideally is a museum? Is an art museum a very special kind of museum, and does art require us to think differently about how a museum should function in our community, culture, or nation? If we have hopes for, or criticisms of, the museum institution, what is the best way to intervene in it? In this course, we will examine the history, theory, and form of the art museum as envisioned by revolutionaries, museum workers, artists, theorists, historians, activists, and governments. In particular, students will study how the BAMPFA functions and explore how museum workers, artists, and museum-goers envision its mission and ideals. Students will learn the goals of its current exhibition program, study specific works in the museum's permanent collection, and learn about the many aspects of museum work which aim to maintain, preserve, educate, celebrate, critique, and transform. For their final projects, students will present a proposal of their own to the museum. Please apply by following this link: https://forms.gle/zH4XJae6Z3v686pt5 Deadline to apply is Friday, Nov 8, 2024 at 5pm. All applicants will be notified by Friday, Nov 15, 2024 at 5pm. Due to the limited space in the class, all students who apply should enroll in a backup course.

Repeat Rules

Course is not repeatable for credit.