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History of Design and Material Culture – (M.A.)
University of Brighton
Faculty of Arts and ArchitectureTherefore, information might be incorrect, incomplete or outdated. We apologise for your inconvenience..
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| Annual Tuition Fee: | ≈ € 5,030 - ≈ € 12,800 (non-EEA) | ||
| Location: | Brighton / United Kingdom | ||
| Duration: | 12 months | ||
| Educational Form: |
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| Education Variants: |
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| Languages: | English | ||
Location of University of Brighton
The specific character of this programme lies in the way it unites the close study of objects and related images, with historical research and cultural theory. Emphasis is placed on the design, production, diffusion and consumption of domestic goods - whether for elite markets or everyday use - rather than capital goods. Approaches to the history of the decorative arts and design are inter-disciplinary and make use of methodological developments in ethnography, gender studies, economic history and other academic fields. Students can either pick a specialist or generalist pathway on this programme to suit their own specific interests, depending upon their personal choice of essay and dissertation research directions.
The University of Brighton is recognised nationally and internationally as one of the leading institutions for the study of the history of decorative arts and design. This course is the only MA in the field based in a school which gained a grade 5 in the national Research Assessment Exercise, an indication of international excellence.
The course draws on the wide-ranging academic expertise of staff in the fields of the history of decorative arts and design, dress history, material culture, museology and social history. The department is based in a Regency building overlooking the famous Royal Pavilion of Brighton constructed in the late eighteenth-early nineteenth century period, close to Brighton's famous sea front and in the heart of the city.
Career and progression opportunities
The course has a healthy employment record, many graduates taking up careers in museums, galleries, arts administration, auction houses, journalism, publishing and education. Others study for further professional qualifications or postgraduate study.
Contents
Modules
Two core units, entitled The Shape of Things: Idea and Objects (Production) and (Consumption), examine the historical factors and circumstances which have shaped the production and consumption of objects in Europe and North America since the 18th century.
Supporting studies consist of a two-term Research Methods course dealing with methods and approaches – Exploring Objects and Design and Identity and Image – that concentrate on key themes central to studying and researching the history of decorative arts and design.
Students also undertake two group research projects, one related to oral history approaches and the other to museum studies. The Critical Reflection unit offers an individual programme tailored to the individual academic interests of each student. Our students can also join the annual Decorative Arts History European visit.
Dissertation
The course’s major unit is a dissertation of 20,000 words, centred on the student’s own specialist research interest, and focused on the use of archives, original object/dress collections and images, and skilled use of critical approaches.
Recent topics have included: ‘The Uses of Amateur Film within Design and Decorative Arts History’, ‘Chinese Canadian Identity through an Assessment of Wedding Dress and Ritual’; ‘Henrion, Crawfords and Harella: the appropriation of Surrealism in graphic art directed at women: 1939-45’; ‘Text and Photography in Lee Miller’s World War 11 work for Vogue’; One Woman’s taste in clothes: Lady Desborough 1867-1952’; ‘Sweden/England- the exchange of design exhibitions in the 1960s’
IELTS
You are normally required to take an English Proficiency Test.
Most European Universities recognise the IELTS test.
Take testRequirements
Candidates should normally hold the equivalent of a British BA Honours degree in a related subject (at an appropriate level) and/or equivalent suitable professional experience.
Applicants with undergraduate/ professional experience in fields of design practice, art history, social history, anthropology and other disciplines who wish to combine their expertise and skills with post graduate study and research into the history of decorative art and design are encouraged to apply. Admission is subject to interview. The programme is taught in English: students with English as a second language will normally need to display suitable levels of proficiency in spoken and written English through a certificate of language competence from a recognised body.
For non-native speakers of English:
6.5 overall, 6 in writing.
Additional Requirements
| Minimal degree required: | Bachelor's degree |
| Minimal amount of work experience | Not specified |
Language Proficiency
| IELTS Band: | 7.0 |
| Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): | Grade C (Score: 60) |
Ask a Question
You can contact Prof Lou Taylor to ask a question about History of Design and Material Culture at University of Brighton.
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