Heritage Cultures: Perspectives on the Past in the Contemporary World

Undergraduate course

ECTS credits
10
Teaching semesters
Autumn
Course code
KARV109
Number of semesters
1
Teaching language
English
Resources
Schedule

Course description

Objectives and Content

In recent decades heritage has come to play an increasingly important role in many societies around the world. Heritage Cultures explores how the past is used, understood, and engaged with in the present. It is an introduction to heritage as an historical, political and social phenomenon which can be approached critically with the methods and theories of the humanities. The course explores the uses (and abuses) of history and interrogates how history is given meaning and value as an instrument of collective identity as well as how it is employed and manipulated for political ends. It also provides an overview on the concepts used on the different forms of heritage, and the ethical, legal, religious and political framework in which heritage institutions operate. The students get to know central practices of heritage work and dissemination. The course also explores the significance of heritage for a variety of communities on the local, national and global levels, and how heritage as a source of both political conflict and collective identity formation is negotiated and constructed in the present. The course is particularly relevant for students who wish to work in the cultural sector, especially with cultural heritage and in museums.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

• is familiar with the main forms of heritage and important heritage management institutions

• can recall central discussions relating to the ethics of heritage

• has a grasp of the basic terminology of cultural heritage studies

• can engage with the core questions of heritage studies both locally and globally

Skills

The student

• can find, evaluate and refer to relevant scholarly literature on cultural heritage

• independently expands their understanding of heritage using relevant disciplinary literature

• connects heritage terminology to the history of heritage and approaches within heritage studies

• can problematise heritage discourse and discuss it using relevant disciplinary concepts

General competence

The student

• can communicate and discuss the key ideas of heritage studies both in writing and orally

• can connect knowledge on heritage studies to their field of study, and design small-scale research projects on heritage

ECTS Credits

10

Level of Study

Bachelor

Semester of Instruction

Autumn

Place of Instruction

Bergen
Required Previous Knowledge
None
Recommended Previous Knowledge
Students must have a good comprehension of English.
Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap
Not applicable.
Access to the Course
The course is open to all students at the University of Bergen.
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching is delivered as lectures (about 12 lectures) and one excursion to a museum or another heritage institution in the Bergen area depending on the available teaching resources. Teaching is delivered in English.
Compulsory Assignments and Attendance
Attending the excursion is mandatory.
Forms of Assessment
4-hour school exam. The answer should be up to 1500 words long.
Grading Scale
Letter grades are used on a scale from A to F, where F is fail.
Assessment Semester
Autumn and spring
Reading List
The reading list is submitted by July 1th for the Autumn semester and by December 1th for the Spring semester. The curriculum will consist of c. 800 pages.
Course Evaluation
The course will be evaluated in line with the University of Bergen's quality assurance system.
Examination Support Material
None
Programme Committee
Programme Committee for the Bachelor’s Programme in Archaeology at the Department of Archaeology, History, Cultural Studies, and Religious Studies.
Course Coordinator
Programme Committee for the Bachelor’s Programme in Archaeology at the Department of Archaeology, History, Cultural Studies, and Religious Studies
Course Administrator
Department of Archaeology, History, Cultural Studies and Religion.

Course description

Contact information

studierettleiar@ahkr.uib.no Telephone: 555 82300