Sound and Vision: Managing and Preserving Photographs, Film and Sound module (RM51006)

Learn about audio-visual collections in your archive services. This will cover acquisition, appraising, management, cataloguing, digitisation and preservation

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Credits

20

Module code

RM51006

You will learn about the management and preservation of photographs, film and sound materials in archive collections. 

You will cover issues surrounding the access, preservation and interpretation of these collections. You will consider the role of specialist photographic, film and sound archives. You will also spend time thinking about the challenges of managing these materials in generalist services. 

The module is split into three sections. 

Unit one provides a historical overview of the development of photography, sound and film. It also looks at the specialist archive services to manage them. 

In unit two you explore the management and administration of photography, film and sound. 

Finally, in unit three you will discuss the preservation of these materials. 

You will learn the skills and knowledge needed to make decisions about audio-visual collections in your archive services. This will cover acquisition, appraising, management, cataloguing, digitisation and preservation. 

What will you learn 

In this module you will: 

  • learn about the historical development of photographic material, film, video and sound recordings 
  • learn about the legal and ethical issues involved with creating and preserving audio-visual records 
  • obtain an expertise in acquiring, appraising, listing and facilitating access to this material 
  • learn about the physical characteristics of audio-visual material. There will be an emphasis on handling, preservation, conservation and restoration 

By the end of the module, you will be able to: 

  • understand the historical development of photographic film and sound material 
  • have expertise in the preservation and management of this material 
  • understand the challenges of facilitating access to this material 

Assignments / assessment 

Coursework (100%) consisting of:  

  • essay (30%)  
  • report (30%) 
  • assessed tasks (30%)   
  • discussion board participation (10%)  

This module does not have a final exam

Teaching methods

  • independent study