The course is a hybrid approach to museological issues with an emphasis on the nature, the place and the practice of modern museology as it is manifested globally. As people are differentiated according to the ways they perceive, interpret and preserve their cultural heritage, museums differ from each other in terms of the particular social groups they represent. Because of the fact that societies are no homogeneous but rather they demonstrate a complex variety in terms of their interests and views, comparative museology provides the framework for a comprehensive analysis and rational assessment of museological trends worldwide. Based on examples of Native and Indigenous tribes in Africa, Asia and America, the methods and perceptions of these groups on the understanding and management of cultural goods and objects in general are highlighted.

The course examines special cases of museums as places where the structures and associations of influences of a community are part of the creation of a cultural context. Models of cultural heritage management from around the world are presented and analyzed. In addition, the new trends in the science of Museology, which incorporate in the process of evaluation and management trends and principles of other sciences such as Anthropology, Sociology and Archeology, are analyzed.

Upon the successful completion of the course the student will be able to:

• Familiarize him/herself with other cultures
• Understand the different methods for approaching a museum object through examples of native tribes
• Develop the idea of democracy in the context of Museology
• Understand the contribution of so-called 'Third World' groups so far excluded from the museological process
• Assimilate the concept of interculturalism and cultural freedom

Week #1: Introductory remarks

Week #2: Comparative Museology: Basic Concepts

Week #3: Elements of history, theory and philosophy of museums

Week #4: The collective activity

Week #5: Significance of museum understanding

Week #6: The Eurocentric Museum

Week #7: The non-European museum landscape

Week #8: Models of native society museums

Week #9: Management of cultural heritage in native societies

Week #10: Intercultural heritage and management modes

Week #11: Museums, culture, and evolution

Week #12: Examples of museums: Oceania, Asia

Week #13: Examples of museums: Africa, America

• Kreps, C., Liberating Culture: Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Museums, Curation, and Heritage Preservation (Routledge, London 2002)
• Black, Graham, Το ελκυστικό μουσείο. Μουσεία και επισκέπτες (Αθήνα 2009)
• Pearce, Susan M., Μουσεία, αντικείμενα και συλλογές (Θεσσαλονίκη 2002)
• Kreps, C., Indigenous Curation as Intangible Cultural Heritage: Thoughts on the Relevance of the 2003 UNESCO Convention, Theorizing Cultural Heritage 1, 2005, 3-8.

Apart from the thematic units mentioned in the course syllabus, in every lecture there will be cooperation with students in the field of cultural activities and presentation of new data in the museological findings of Greek and foreign museums

-

Written examination and compulsory written work and presentation.