Art History and Museum Studies Program

Program Overview

Many people are familiar with world-renowned artists such as Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet, Rembrandt van Rijn, Salvador Dali, and Michelangelo, but few are aware of how their artwork can provide insights into history. The study of art history has had a profound impact on humans throughout history. It has allowed us to understand and appreciate the diverse cultures and societies that have existed throughout time. By studying the arts and artifacts of the past, we are able to gain insight into the beliefs, values, and social structures of ancient civilizations.

This program explores the intertwined histories of colonization, the development of the western museum, nationalism, and geopolitics, using contemporary debates about decolonizing museums and repatriating and restituting problematic objects as a vehicle. One of the most pressing issue on the arts scene across the world today is the status of hundreds of thousands of artifacts stolen or otherwise illegally obtained from indigenous peoples across the world during the period of European colonization.

The continued presence of these objects in museums in the United States and Europe despite requests for their return by their original owners signals a continuation of the founding imperialist mindset of the museum as an institution. Through the use of scholarly texts, film, websites, and social media, students will explore more on this topic.

Eureka Alumni from this program have received admission offers to Princeton University, Harvard University, Yale University, Brown University, University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), University of Chicago, John Hopkins University (JHU), and other top US universities. Alumni from this program have gone off to pursue majors in Philosophy, History, Law, Economics, and Design.

The research experience and skills students receive at the Eureka Program have helped students get accepted to prestigious programs such as the Stanford Summer Humanities Institute and the Yale Young Global Scholars. Students from this program have also had their works published in The Concord Review, which only accepts about 5% of essays received. Students from this program are also very engaged in their communities, sharing in volunteering activities and starting non-profit organizations to help the community.

After learning about the refugee crisis in various parts of Europe, one student from Luxembourg organized a charity to send hygiene products, cooking kits, books, and other supplies. In addition, two siblings that attended this program run a non-profit organization to help young children learn about culture.

The below sections will provide more insight into the students that have attended this program and share their experiences and successes.

Research Topic Samples

How Do Museums Impact Indigenous Health and Wellbeing?

Student D.* completed a research project in the Eureka Art History Program. Her research paper explores the negative impact museums have had on indigenous communities, as well as ways for museums to take part in the healing of native groups in the future. The dispersal of artifacts in museums is related to disrupted cultural heritage, which has had a negative effect on indigenous health. The paper examines a case of cultural repatriation for the Tlingit people of Southeast Alaska and suggests cultural repatriation, producing replicas, and forming long-term, collaborative partnerships with the communities as ways for museums to take part in the healing of indigenous communities. With recent repatriation efforts and success stories, it is imperative for more data to be observed and collected to demonstrate the positive impact that a healthy collaboration with museums has on indigenous wellbeing.

*To protect the privacy of some students, names have been hidden.

Dies Irae - Why Apocalyptic Fiction Is So Popular In The Modern Day

Student Experiences

Eureka Student Research: The Effect of Purchase Intentions and Mere Exposure on the Valuation of Art

Eureka Student Research: The Possible 50ft Columns of the Pantheon Lost in Transit

Eureka Student Research: Digging deeper into texts: The Mesh of Form and Content

Community Activities

A Eureka Student's blog about her research experience attracted many readers who shared their own experiences in the comments section of her blog. She transformed the blog into a forum named Vitamuse, which offered innovative forms of museum presentations, including video, audio, virtual stories, and hand-painted brochures for self-designed urban archaeological walking routes. The forum collaborated with 17 schools to organize museum photography competitions, tours, and activities, and established partnerships with museums to offer members perks like discounted admission, chats with curators, and access to storage rooms. The community grew to over 2,500 museum lovers in just over a year, comprising all ages and professions, from kindergarten children to 80-year-old nannies, IT workers, and foreigners residing in Shanghai.

Source:

A Eureka alumni was awarded an internship at the Public Education Department of the prestigious Shanghai Museum of Art. During her time there, she was entrusted with the responsibility of managing the museum's official social media accounts, an essential aspect of modern-day marketing and promotion. Over the course of her internship, she composed 13 engaging articles that captivated the museum's audience and garnered over 13,000 views. Her contributions helped raise the profile of the museum and highlighted its collections to a broader audience, contributing to the overall mission of the museum and increasing awareness of Chinese art and culture. The opportunity to intern at such an esteemed institution provided the alumni with a valuable experience that will benefit her career and personal growth.

Source:

Shanghai Museum of Art