School of Information
142AC Access to American Cultural Heritages. Summer 2009.
3 units. CCN#49801. July 6 to August 14, MWF 10:00-12:30. 202 South Hall.
Instructors: Ryan Shaw (ryanshaw@ischool.berkeley.edu) and Michael Buckland (buckland@sims.berkeley.edu).
Instructors: Ryan Shaw (ryanshaw@ischool.berkeley.edu) and Michael Buckland (buckland@sims.berkeley.edu).
Do museums have attitudes? Are libraries neutral? Who owns the
excavated bones? Who is trying to shape your sense of identity?
We are surrounded by publicly presented information about who we
are, how we should regard ourselves, and how we should regard
others. There are large vested interests in people's sense of
cultural, ethnic, and national identity. Infosys 142 is an
informal introduction to issues in the preservation,
representation and use of tangible forms of cultural heritage,
especially in the U.S.A.
Overview.
Why take this course?
What is meant by "access"?
So what is cultural heritage?
Some topics.
Course description: 3 units. An introduction to issues
in the preservation, description, and use of tangible forms of
cultural heritage. Documentation, ownership, and control of
access to cultural heritage resources in the U.S.A. Cultural
groups, cultural identity, cultural policies, and cultural
institutions (libraries, media, museums, school, historic
sites, etc.). Satisfies the American Cultures and
L&S
Social & Behavioral Sciences breadth requirements.
Topics to be covered: Introduction. Intentions. Culture.
Cultural heritage. Bibliographic access. Information systems are
culturally based. Historical museums. Art museums. Monuments and
historic sites. Education, censorship, languages, cultural
heritages, and cultural identity. Archives, libraries, and
manuscript collections. Cultural and historical organizations.
Social construction of heritage. Social memory. Tradition. Cultural
policies. Cultural property. Law and culture. Alienation. Public
funding for cultural heritages. Economics of cultural heritage:
Tourism. Collecting. Development. Authenticity and interpretation.
Conflicts and multiculturalism. Historiography. Cultural frame of
the historian. Interpretation of distant cultures.
Readings: Mostly short weekly readings to become familiar
with concepts, terminology and issues. e.g. "Culture", "Heritage
interpretation", etc. Other according to student's theme.
Assignments: Visit and review a cultural exhibit. Interview
someone with cultural heritage responsibilities. Weekly exercises
and investigative assignments throughout to: Develop expertise in
using libraries and online information systems; Acquire familiarity
with relevant specialized sources; Understand the character of
knowledge- and culture-transmitting institutions / systems.
Personal theme and portfolio: Each student will pick a theme
within the scope of the course, some combination of topic and
cultural group. Through the exercises, assignments, and other
investigations, each student will build up a portfolio on that
topic: explanation, commentary, and, especially, a guide to
sources. Brief written and oral progress reports.
Past topics.
Expectations: Three in-class closed-book exams intended,
with limited choice of questions. Other expectations. Attendance
and participation. Well-written work. Up to 6 hours work a week
outside class. Individual consultation.
Grading: One third: Assignments; One third: Exams; and one
third: Portfolio. Attendance, participation, and small exercises
are expected to be satisfactory, with unusual performance used to
raise or lower final grade. No Final.
Requirements: Satisfies the American Cultures and
L&S
Social & Behavioral Sciences breadth requirements.