Art, Whiteness, and Empire
FAH 0283
Course Description
Examining the ways in which whiteness functioned in service to European colonization, students in this course will explore how western art museums developed as cultural repositories of colonialism, and how this historical functionality directly informs the many problems facing museums today. Specifically, it will define whiteness, colonization, race and the specific role of each within the contexts of collections, exhibitions, interpretation, the art market, and museum policies regarding staff and visitors; it will define anti-racism, examine the history of anti-racist pedagogies developed within Indigenous and Black intellectual traditions, and teach students how to apply these traditions to curatorial practice; it will teach anti-racist object analyses and how to interpret historical objects through a non-white lens; and delineate best ways to navigate normative institutional structures and procedures that are rooted in imperialist histories.
Basic Enrollment Requirements: Unofficial Transcript – Bachelor’s Degree + 3.0 GPA.
Refund Policy: The refund policy for Courses at Tufts offerings is dependent on the offering type: whether the offering is a course, workshop or short course, or in-demand offering. Please refer to the section details to confirm the type of offering as well as any exceptions to the standard refund policy. The refund policies for each offering type are viewable here: https://universitycollege.tufts.edu/policies/refunds#Courses-at-Tufts-(Academic-Year--Summer-Session)
Remission Eligible: Yes; first day of term; all university policies apply.