In this course we will explore the complex and often contested role that anthropologists working in museums play in representing, researching, and collecting material culture from societies, both past and present. To understand recent changes in museums, we will begin with a brief history of anthropological and archaeological exhibits and collections in the U.S. and Europe. Students will then explore contemporary questions of representation, identity, community collaborations, and repatriation through case studies, visits to museums, and exercises using museum objects. Grades are base on participation, journal entries, two assignments building on course readings and activities, and a research project on a contemporary museum issue. Assignments and journal entries are designed to help students integrate and apply information learned in class with their own experiences in museums. Readings will include Museums and Source Communities by Larura Peers and Alison Brown, plus materials on ctools.