college FALL 2009 THEME SEMESTER
Meaningful Objects
The College of LSA’s new theme year highlights university museums and the treasures they hold What objects belong in a museum? What is unique about university museums? Who owns culture? These are just a few of the questions that will be explored through the College’s new theme year, Meaningful Objects: Museums in the Academy, during the 2009–2010 academic year. The theme year celebrates the reopening of two major museums on campus — the University of Michigan Museum of Art and the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology — and explores issues concerning museums found within university settings. From rare books to oil paintings to dinosaur bones and more, the theme year will use objects to enhance “museum literacy” among students, faculty, and community members. It will also use events and classes to inspire curiosity and learning. Many of the activities held in conjunction with the theme year are free and open to alumni, including the ongoing “Wednesday Night Museums” lecture series, as well as “A Day at the Museum,” which features U-M museum professionals talking about museum careers. The theme year also highlights the College’s new undergraduate minor in Museum Studies. n
(Top) Courtesy of the Exhibit Museum of Natural History; (bottom) Evan Hansen
Learn more> For more information on the events and topics associated with the Meaningful Objects theme year, please visit www.lsa.umich.edu/museumstheme.
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What building am i?
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X When I was erected in 1920, these bars were placed on my windows for decoration, not imprisonment. Z
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However, during final exams, the thousands of students who temporarily inhabit me might feel otherwise.
Answers on p. 56