PO 497K

Pol of Museums & Cult Heritage

For many, a museum is a lovely place to spend an afternoon. But it is also a deeply political space and an important economic contributor. This course will examine the museum at the intersection of culture, politics, and economics to understand its importance as a political actor. Among the topics that we cover are restitution/repatriation and the return of cultural artefacts; public funding for art and the museum’s relationship with the state; museum diplomacy; and curatorial decisions, including the digital museum. As a complement to this conversation, we will explore the political economy of the protection and destruction of cultural heritage.