Module Information
Course Delivery
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Essay (1500 words) | 50% |
| Semester Assessment | Report (1500 words) | 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Essay (1500 words) | 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Report (1500 words) | 50% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Articulate key debates in the heritage field with reference to appropriate critics.
2. Outline the development of heritage legislation in the UK.
3. Discuss the growth of heritage organizations in the UK.
4. Discuss the role of heritage organizations in the preservation and presentation of the past.
5. Examine the roles and responsibilities of heritage practitioners and identify pathways to career development in that area.
6. Identify and use a range of appropriate primary and/or secondary sources (including books, articles, legislation, professional standards and case studies).
Brief description
Students will gain an overview of the academic and professional debates concerning the nature and role of heritage in society, and the key legislation and organizations which seek to safeguard our heritage.
Content
The nature and role of heritage
These sessions will examine key academic debates around heritage as both a positive and a problematic movement. We will explore the nature of heritage, its relationship to allied areas such as history, memory, and politics, and different types of heritage such as physical, intangible, landscape etc.
Heritage legislation
By tracing the history of the heritage movement from c. 18th century onwards we will explore the development of key legislation, including that which saw the establishment of libraries, archives, and museums. Although the focus here will be on the UK experience, we will reference international bodies and legislation as appropriate, drawing on students’ own cultural contexts where relevant.
Preserving the past for the future
In these sessions we will examine the role of cultural heritage institutions. We will explore the practical issues involved in the preservation of our built and artefactual heritage, and the innovative ways in which organizations are making heritage available to a wide variety of users both physically and virtually. We will also explore career opportunities in the sector.
The Politics of Heritage
This final theme explores some of the political and ethical issues in the heritage sector, including debates around cultural property and the ethics of collection and display. We will examine some of the more controversial areas of heritage, including the display of human remains, cultural appropriation, and the rise of ‘dark’ heritage and tourism.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | N/A |
| Communication | Contributing to sessions – face to face and online (not assessed) Written skills in assignment |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Using assessment to link into developing own career plans in the sector. |
| Information Technology | Identifying and using appropriate websites/social media for relevant organizations; appropriate use of IT for production of assignments; use of e-learning resources. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Teaching sessions and assessment. |
| Problem solving | Identifying topics for assignments, evaluating sources material, creating report. |
| Research skills | Identifying and using relevant primary and secondary material. |
| Subject Specific Skills | Developing understanding of academic subject and relationship to professional issues. |
| Team work | Class group work. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 4