The aim of the course is to develop students’ understanding of the history, theory, ethics and politics of heritage and museums practice in contexts of conflict and difficult heritage, drawing on material from across a wide spectrum of modern and ancient case studies that speak to relevant, and often controversial, contemporary issues. As appropriate, these will be placed in the wider context of responses to natural and man-made disasters. Students will explore issues of theory and practice in a range of institutional settings, in the UK and internationally, including difficult and contested narratives, conservation and conflict zones, contemporary collecting and memory, memorials, civil rights and creative resistance, war and post-war heritage engagement, identity in conflict (soldiers, civilians, victims - ancient and modern), human remains, dark tourism and museums of civil wars, and dealing with trauma and conflict in a museological context.
Each week focuses on a key area of practice and theory, and includes student-led activities, fieldwork and professional presentations. The aim is to stimulate critical reflection, as well as enable students to acquire nuanced and contextualized knowledge and understanding of some of the key intellectual, ethical, professional and political questions posed by, and of, heritage and museums in the context of conflict.
The aims of the unit are to:
- Equip students with thorough knowledge and understanding of the social, spatial, ethical, political and financial and historical contexts of heritage, museums and conflict situations
- Investigate the interrelations between curating, designing, making, documenting, expressing and communicating conflict
- Map the development of the concept and practice of heritage and museums practice in conflict internationally, nationally, regionally and locally.
- Introduce and apply key concepts in heritage theory to the critical analysis of conflict at the national, institutional or community level.
- Prepare students for work-based practice through the interaction with heritage professionals and the opportunity to debate critical issues in policy and practice.
- Develop students' skills in preparing and chairing meetings, conducting debate and facilitating discussion.
- Develop students' research and written communication skills and styles.
