Midterm assignments are due at the end of Module 6 – February 26, 2023.
midterm assignment
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Midterm assignments are due at the end of week 6 (ending February 26 at midnight AKST). Please submit your midterm (as a word or google document, pdf, and powerpoint with voice narration, or movie (.mov or .mp4) in the designated Google Drive folder. Submit your ppt with notes for each slide, or “printed” as a pdf showing “Notes”. Each of the folders is unique to your email address (use your @alaska.edu email), and the content cannot be viewed by your classmates, unless you wish to invite them to the folder.
The midterm project will allow you to synthesize your knowledge gained from the first six weeks of the course. Use terminology we covered and cite appropriate readings assigned, and/or provide additional references as you see fit. You can choose between two options: option A will allow you to assemble your own collection of objects for presentation to the public and discuss steps from the field to the cabinet as they relate to museum studies, while in option B you will analyze a fictional movie and how elements of museum studies are portrayed in the film.
option A
Summary: Assemble a collection (virtual or real; natural, cultural, or art) and prepare it to present to the public. There are two parts to this assignment.
SUBMIT part 1 or part 2 as a written essay, and the other via a recorded powerpoint with narration or film yourself describing:
What jobs would be involved in the creation of the collection and the development of the presentation and why they are needed; What would you need in order to make the collection (to acquire the collection) – this might include permits or other paperwork; What legal and ethical issues should be considered in order to make this collection.
Compare and contrast how this collection would have been assembled and interpreted in ca. 1850 as a cabinet of curiosity vs. how it is assembled and interpreted in 2023.
Be sure to include at least 5 references from the course readings. Please use book chapters, journal articles, or pieces of legislation only. If you are recording yourself off a smartphone or other device, write out your references on a piece of paper and film them for us.
Option B
Summary: Watch a fictional movie that incorporates museums and analyze its accuracy by reviewing museum workflow and governance elements as indicated below. There are two parts to this assignment.
SUBMIT part 1 or part 2 as a written essay, and the other via a recorded powerpoint with narration or film yourself:
Analyze at least three of the following elements: Museum jobs mentioned; accuracy of the collecting activities of the museum; accuracy of the way the governance, laws, and ethical issues are presented; how the collections are described or presented in the film, especially if legal or ethical issues are presented; and how living collections are incorporated into the film. Your movie selection will need to cover at least three of the elements mentioned above.
Compare and contrast how the fictional setting compares to a documentary about museums, give examples of such documentaries.
Be sure to include at least 5 references from the course readings. Please use book chapters, journal articles, or pieces of legislation only. If you are recording yourself off a smartphone or other device, write out your references on a piece of paper and film them for us.
View this video to learn how to record a powerpoint presentation and view this PDF for written instructions. Please note we recorded this video last semester and updated for this semester, but there might be a reference or two to last semester’s dates!).
rubric
200 points possible
We are expecting three (3) files to be submitted for your midterm.
A movie (.mov or .mp4 file) for part 1 or 2 of either option (A or B). Minimally, these movies need to be 15 minutes in length.
A Word / Google doc or pdf for your essay (part 1 or 2 that was not filmed). The essay needs to be 10 (+/- 1) pages in length, double-spaced, 12 font, excluding references in the page count. Please use this space to make a convincing argument hitting on the points in the rubric and check your spelling.
A notes file (pdf) from your narrated powerpoint or script from your filmed response.
Here are some links to examples of movies featuring museums. These are examples only, please do not restrict yourself to those, the more obscure the better! 🙂 If you’re unsure about the suitability of your movie, reach out to the instructors to discuss.
Thanks to students who agreed to have their midterm productions shown here for use in future semesters.
1. Krupali Ashok has assembled an exciting exhibit around Angelica archangelica as a cultural plant in Norway detailing its traditional uses over time, as well as its use in ethnobotanical projects at the Natural History Museum in Oslo, Norway.
2. Anton Giusca shares his passion for coin collecting, and provides an excellent presentation about his collection and well thought-out elements for putting them on exhibit. He uses engaging storytelling, and places his coin collection within the world of a cabinet of curiosities in the 1850s.
3. Desiree Ramirez discusses five social media posts to celebrate American Archives Month (AAM). She provides a quick snapshot into the larger collection at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve (WRST) and how these items would have been incorporated into a cabinet of curiosities. This is a great example of drawing from your lived experiences. Desiree shows off her in-depth knowledge of the federal system and how it is ever-so-slightly different.
4. Lisa Guffey provides a well-researched presentation on a collection of paintings and artworks by Rockwell Kent and his connection to Alaskan artists. It includes excellent research on the topic, thorough and realistic description of the staff, and Lisa highlights the relevant legal & ethical issues involved in putting together this exhibit.
