2024/2025

Documenting the Past: Representation of Memory in Museums and Exhibitions

Type: Optional course (faculty)

Delivered by: School of Philosophy and Cultural Studies

When: 4 module

Open to: students of one campus

Instructors: Tatiana Mironova

Language: English

ECTS credits: 3

Course Syllabus

Abstract

Nowadays the question of memory and history becomes more and more relevant not only within the academic field but also among artists, curators and museums. We can see that new institutions emerge, among which are museums of conscience (Holocaust museums, GULAG museums). Also, contemporary artists start to work with their family histories, personal memories and local narratives. This course aims to shed light on the process of creating museum and contemporary art exhibitions based on documentary materials. Diaries, photographs, and oral histories appear to be crucial material for artists and curators who work with the problems of history and personal memories. During this course students get acquainted with different strategies of working with documents as a means of representation of the past. This question includes three aspects: 1) types of documents artists and curators use in their projects 2) exhibition dispositifs including different types of spaces 3) the position of a viewer and the relations between artist and visitors. The program of the course is focused not only on the museums of conscience as well as contemporary art museums and centers but also on independent artist-run spaces and land art projects. As a result, the process of working with memory and history in museums and exhibition spaces is considered as a whole in cultural, social and historical contexts.