Deconstructing the Cultural Heritage Artefact HISTART5145

  • Academic Session: 2023-24
  • School: School of Culture and Creative Arts
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 1
  • Available to Visiting Students: No

Short Description

This course aims to give students an understanding of the manufacture, characteristics, ageing and degradation of a range of materials used in the production of textiles, paper and parchment, and associated objects, such as leather, paint and metals, so that students gain an awareness of the problems concerning preservation of these materials and how their present appearance should be interpreted.

Timetable

1 x 1hr lecture per week over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus

1 x 1hr seminar per week over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus

3 x 2hr supervised studio time

Requirements of Entry

A candidate will be permitted to progress to year 2 if they have obtained an average aggregation score of 12 (C3) or above in the taught courses with at least 75% of the credits at Grade D3 and all credits at Grade F or above. Satisfactory completion of the work placement at Grade D3 or above is required to progress to Year 2.

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

Object Record (4000 words) - 80%

Grant application sample (1000 words) - 20%

Main Assessment In: December

Course Aims

This course aims to:

 

■ Broaden knowledge of the chemical and physical properties of materials encountered in mixed material artefacts within a historical and cultural context

■ Introduce analytical methods to inform collection care and interventive and preventive conservation decisions for mixed material collections

■ Introduce a range of analytical instruments used to identify materials and an appreciation of their application and limitations

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

■ Critically assess mixed material objects by visual appearance, condition, and historical and cultural context to make informed judgements about material components

■ Formulate coherent and viable research questions about historical mixed media objects to engage in research collaboration and dialogue with scientists

■ Identify and select analytical techniques suitable for the research of mixed media objects

■ Evaluate the choice and application of analytical techniques in research described in published literature

■ Present information in writing in a style appropriate to a non-textile, book or paper conservation audience

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.