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AH40510

Academic Year 2024/2025

Museums & Modernity (AH40510)

Subject:
Art History
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
Art History & Cultural Policy
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Dr Roisin Kennedy
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

The module assesses the relationship between the museum and modernity by examining the history of the museum of modern or living art. The module explores the development of the museum of modern art from the Musée du Luxembourg in Paris in the early 19th century to the establishment of the Tate Modern in 2000. The role of such institutions as the Museum of Modern Art in New York in creating the canon of modernist art is critically assessed. Irish institutions such as the Dublin City Gallery, the Hugh Lane and IMMA are placed within the international context of the gallery of modern and contemporary art. The emphasis on individual collectors, curators, dealers and artists in the development of displays of modern art is considered. The course analyses how modernist and post-modernist artists have engaged with the power of the museum and challenged its authority. It analyses key concepts such as the White Cube, Installation art, Institutional Critique and Liminality. The module includes field trips to museums and galleries in Dublin.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

• Be conversant with the development of the museum of modern or living art from the early 19th century to the present.
• Have a critical understanding of how the museum of modern art reflects wider social and cultural imperatives in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries.
• Be able to distinguish and explain the difference the modern and the post-modern museum.
• Be able to critically reflect on why and how artists have challenged the authority of the museum.

Indicative Module Content:

Museums of contemporary art in 19th century: Musée du Luxembourg
Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery of Modern Art
The Curatorial and Collection Policies of MOMA, New York
The Post-modernist/Contemporary Art Museum
Institutional Critique
IMMA - its history and rationale

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

36
Specified Learning Activities

82
Autonomous Student Learning

82
Total

200

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Teaching and learning is based on small group teaching - lectures, discussions and presentations and in site visits to museums and galleries. All submitted assignments should be original, non-plagiarised work without recourse to AI tools.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Participation in Learning Activities: This is based on students' participation in class discussions. It is essential to read at
least the core readings (available in Brightspace) before the session, as well as assigned readings.		 Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Graded No

10

 No
Report(s): 15 minute presentation either as Powerpoint or in a gallery context and the production of an accompanying handout. Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11 Graded No

40

 No
Assignment(Including Essay): 3000 word essay based on presentation and/or course content Week 14 Graded No

50

 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback on presentation will be given individually during the semester, post-assessment. Feedback on end of term essay will be after examination process.

Name Role
Professor Kathleen James-Chakraborty Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
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