Thinking Critically About Art Museums
Thinking Critically About Art Museums
ART HIS 827.23
This course examines the state and functions of art museums in 2026. Students visit a variety of musuems toevaluate their contents, layouts, signage, and more.
Duration
As few as 6 weeks
Current Formats
Hybrid
Cost
Starting at $350.00
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About This Course
What is and should be the role of an art museum? This course examines the state and functions of art museums in 2026. While the focus is on art institutions in Los Angeles, many of which are in the process of expanding or being revitalized with an eye to the 2028 Olympics, course coverage is international in scope, as the personal experience of class members is to figure prominently in our discussions. Students will visit the new David Geffen Galleries at LACMA as well as the recently opened DATALAND and Lucas Museum of Narrative Art so as to evaluate their contents, layouts, signage, and more. How do these institutions balance audience engagement and entertainment with the imparting of knowledge? Further, how are art venues positioned with regard to the current administration’s critique of standing institutional policies of free speech, diversity, and the recording of factual histories? Censorship and self-censorship on the part of museums are to be considered. The course begins with a single Zoom meeting; the subsequent 5 sessions are held at locations in Los Angeles TBD.
Fall 2026 Schedule
Date
Details
Format
-
Thursday 11:00AM - 12:30PM PT
REG#
410466
Fee:
$350.00
Hybrid
By itinerary
Remote Classroom
Notes
This hybrid section is made up of Live Online and In-Person instruction.
Deadline
Refunds only available from July 27, 2026 to October 18, 2026
Schedule
Type
Date
Time
Location
Discussion
Thu Oct 8, 2026
11:00AM PT - 12:30PM PT
Remote Classroom
Off-Site
Thu Oct 15, 2026
11:00AM PT - 12:30PM PT
By itinerary
Off-Site
Thu Oct 22, 2026
11:00AM PT - 12:30PM PT
By itinerary
Off-Site
Thu Oct 29, 2026
11:00AM PT - 12:30PM PT
By itinerary
Off-Site
Thu Nov 5, 2026
11:00AM PT - 12:30PM PT
By itinerary
Off-Site
Thu Nov 12, 2026
11:00AM PT - 12:30PM PT
By itinerary