Collecting Power: Museums, Colonialism, and Restitution
Single subject — no qualification is awarded on completion. Credits toward the qualifications listed below.
This subject is FEE-HELP eligible, so eligible students can defer the $2,174 fee as a government loan and pay nothing upfront.
Fees and funding are indicative only. Confirm your eligibility and final costs with the provider.
About this subject
Museums are widely considered the custodians of what our cultures deem most valuable. Yet what is collected, and how, tells us a great deal about the ongoing violence of colonialism. In this subject, you explore the relationship between collecting, conflict and power, and how the role of art in conquest, nation-building and religious conflicts can lead to its destruction or censorship. You will consider several case studies drawn from a Western context, such as the Elgin marbles, Nazi looting and terrorist destruction of cultural heritage, and explore the wider ethical and legal context of collecting, destruction and theft. You will also explore broad cultural responses to redressing this legacy in ‘decolonising’ actions that include the restitution and repatriation of cultural objects and the transformation of institutional practices in response to First Nations advocacy. You will be introduced to the ethical, moral and legal issues involved in the circulation of art around the world to facilitate the development of your global and cross-cultural thinking. You will participate in weekly seminars to develop your own perspective and point of view, in addition to engaging with a range of learning activities.
Collecting Power: Museums, Colonialism, and Restitution is a standalone subject at La Trobe University in VIC. Completing it does not award a qualification. Credit may apply toward the qualifications listed on this page.
No qualification credit mapping has been indexed for this subject yet. The provider may still grant credit toward a related award — confirm with La Trobe University before enrolling.
La Trobe University is the awarding provider. Recorded study modes are Online. Typical duration is listed as 12 weeks. The subject is listed at 25 credit points. Eligible students may defer fees through FEE-HELP.
Details on this page are compiled from the provider's published subject information and government registers. Fees, intakes and credit rules can change — confirm current details with La Trobe University before enrolling.
Listing facts
- Type
- Single subject
- National code
- LTU-ART2002
- Field of education
- Architecture and building
- Provider
- La Trobe University
- Credit points
- 25
- Study mode
- Online
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Qualifications listed
- 0
- FEE-HELP
- Eligible