Module manager: Robert Knifton
Email: r.h.knifton@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
| ARTF5256M | Collecting and Curating Popular Culture |
This module is not approved as an Elective
Representation of popular culture in museums has grown in recent years as new approaches to museum theory and practice challenge divisions between high and low that previously excluded popular culture. This module explores the relationship between popular culture and the museum, traces popular culture’s growth within museum collecting and curating, and interrogates how its use can offer effective strategies for community representation that widen and deepen political, social and cultural storytelling in the museum. Please note this is an optional module and runs subject to enrolments. If a low number of students choose this module, then the module may not run and you may be asked to choose another module.
The module aims to enrich your understanding of the positioning of popular culture within museums, exploring a range of case studies and examples, both locally and globally.
You will develop conceptual and critical frameworks within your thinking which enable you to analyse examples of popular culture collecting and curating in practice, and to propose your own interventions within this field.
On successful completion of the module you will be able to:
1. Refer to a range of popular culture examples and genres that appear within museum contexts.
2. Apply a range of theories from collecting, curating and museology to evaluate examples of popular culture curating and collecting.
3. Classify existing museum practice around popular culture and relate it to academic literature on the topic.
4. Construct your own proposal of practice within this area, informed by background reading and case study examples.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module you will be able to:
5. Generate ideas, demonstrate originality and imaginative thinking within museological practice.
6. Access and investigate a variety of sources of information on popular culture in museums.
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fieldwork | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Lecture | 9 | 1 | 9 |
| Seminar | 9 | 1 | 9 |
| Private study hours | 180 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 20 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
The mid-term assignment offers an opportunity for formal written developmental feedback to each student.
There will be opportunities for students to build presentational skills within the teaching methods, enabling both peer-to-peer and lecturer formative feedback on development of ideas connected to the module.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Written | 30 |
| Coursework | Written | 70 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 15/04/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team