Handbook

The focus of this course is on the role of museums and art galleries in the representation of Indigenous peoples and their cultures. The course begins with an introduction to Indigenous material culture, in both pre-contact and contact Australia. Students will also learn about the collection, study and display of Indigenous objects by museums and galleries. In this context disciplines of anthropology, ethnography, archaeology and museology are examined. Particular attention is given to the ways in which we can study objects and their different meanings as they journey from Indigenous contexts to non-Indigenous institutions. Students undertake an excursion to one or more local museums and participate in interactive seminar discussion as part of this course.