OpenCourser brand icon
Sign in
Sorry, this page is no longer available
We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Course image
FutureLearn logo

Confronting Captain Cook

Memorialisation in museums and public spaces

Julie Botticello

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is suitable for historians and students looking to broaden their knowledge. It would also appeal to anyone with an interest in museum studies, or those interested in investigating colonialism and its legacies. You can use the hashtag #FLCaptainCook to talk about this course on social media.

Topics Covered

Read more

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is suitable for historians and students looking to broaden their knowledge. It would also appeal to anyone with an interest in museum studies, or those interested in investigating colonialism and its legacies. You can use the hashtag #FLCaptainCook to talk about this course on social media.

Topics Covered

Enroll now

Save this course

Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
Save

Reviews summary

Critical exploration of captain cook's legacy

According to students, this course offers an incredibly thought-provoking and nuanced exploration of Captain Cook's legacy and memorialization. Learners praise its depth of analysis, the presentation of diverse indigenous perspectives, and the engaging lecturers who present complex ideas with clarity. The forum discussions are often highlighted as a valuable component for thoughtful contributions. While many find the content highly relevant to current debates on decolonization and public history, some learners, especially those without a strong academic background, found it occasionally overly academic or noted the heavy workload with dense readings. Overall, it's considered an exceptional and unique offering for those interested in cultural studies or museum interpretation.
Highly relevant to current discussions on decolonization and public history.
"Engaging content and very relevant to current discussions about decolonization and historical narratives."
"Truly exceptional course that explores a crucial and timely topic."
"It's truly a unique offering for anyone interested in public history."
Features engaging educators presenting complex ideas with diverse viewpoints.
"The educators provided diverse perspectives and the discussions were lively and respectful."
"The lecturers were exceptional, presenting complex ideas with clarity."
"The focus on different indigenous perspectives was particularly powerful and well-handled."
"Truly exceptional course... The diverse expert voices... were all top-notch."
Provides a deep, critical, and nuanced exploration of the topic.
"Absolutely brilliant course! The content was incredibly thought-provoking, delving deep into the complexities of Captain Cook's legacy..."
"I appreciated the nuance brought to the topic of Captain Cook and the ongoing debates around his historical figure."
"This course was a revelation. It offered such a balanced yet critical look at Captain Cook's impact and how we grapple with his memory today."
"The depth of analysis, the diverse expert voices, and the critical engagement with memorialization were all top-notch."
Involves a significant amount of reading, which some find dense or overwhelming.
"Some of the longer readings felt a bit dense at times."
"The workload was heavier than expected for an online course, with a significant amount of reading."
"My only minor suggestion would be to perhaps offer more guidance on navigating the vast amount of supplementary material, as it can be a bit overwhelming if you try to read everything."
Suited for learners with an academic background in history or cultural studies.
"I felt the course occasionally veered into being overly academic and assumed a certain level of prior knowledge."
"As a beginner to this specific area, I found some of the terminology and concepts a bit overwhelming without more basic explanations."
"The content felt tailored to university students or professionals, not general public interest."
"It wasn't presented in an accessible way for someone without an academic background."

Activities

Coming soon We're preparing activities for Confronting Captain Cook: Memorialisation in museums and public spaces. These are activities you can do either before, during, or after a course.

Career center

Learners who complete Confronting Captain Cook: Memorialisation in museums and public spaces will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

We haven't picked any books for this reading list yet.
Cover image
Museums, Power, Knowledge
Save
Examines the role of museums in the development of modernity. It argues that museums have played a key role in shaping our understanding of the world, and that they continue to be important institutions in the 21st century.
Museums, Power, Knowledge
Paperback
Check
Museums, Power, Knowledge
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
Learning from Museums
Save
Explores the relationship between museums and their communities. It argues that museums need to be responsive to the needs of their communities, and that they need to find new ways to engage with them. It is written by John Falk and Lynn Dierking, two leading experts in the field of museum community engagement.
Learning from Museums
Paperback
Check
Learning from Museums
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
The Love Artist
Save
Provides a practical guide to curation. It covers all aspects of the curatorial process, from planning an exhibition to installing it. It is written by Jane Alison, a curator at the Tate Modern in London.
The Love-Artist
Hardcover
$$
The Love-Artist: A Novel
Kindle Edition
$
Cover image
Exhibition Design
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of exhibition design. It covers all aspects of the design process, from planning an exhibition to installing it. It is written by David C. Ribeiro, a leading expert in the field of exhibition design.
Exhibition Design
Paperback
Check
Exhibition Design
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
Anne the Legacy of Light
Save
Provides a practical guide to museum lighting. It covers all aspects of the lighting process, from planning a lighting scheme to installing it. It is written by Jerry Johnson, a leading expert in the field of museum lighting.
Anne the Legacy of Light
Paperback
Check
Anne the Legacy of Light
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
Behind the Scenes at the Science Museum
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of museum management. It covers all aspects of the management process, from planning to evaluation. It is written by Sharon J. Macdonald, a leading expert in the field of museum management.
Behind the Scenes at the Science Museum
Paperback
Check
Behind the Scenes at the Science Museum
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
Rethinking the Museum and Other Meditations
Save
Explores the ethical issues that museums face. It covers a wide range of topics, from the acquisition of objects to the display of controversial exhibitions. It is written by Stephen E. Weil, a leading expert in the field of museum ethics.
Rethinking the Museum and Other Meditations
Paperback
Check
Rethinking the Museum and Other Meditations
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
The Participatory Museum
Save
Explores the role of museums in promoting social justice. It argues that museums have a responsibility to use their collections and resources to address social issues. It is written by Nina Simon, a leading expert in the field of museum social justice.
The Participatory Museum
Paperback
$$
The Participatory Museum
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
Art History for Filmmakers
Save
Explores the role of museums in education. It argues that museums can be powerful learning environments, and that they can help people to learn about a wide range of topics. It is written by Gillian McIver, a leading expert in the field of museum education.
Art History for Filmmakers: The Art of Visual...
Paperback
$$
Art History for Filmmakers: The Art of Visual...
Kindle Edition
$$
Exploring Culture
Save
Explores the impact of digital culture on museums. It argues that museums need to adapt to the changing needs of their audiences, and that they need to find new ways to engage with them online. It is written by Elizabeth Losh, a leading expert in the field of museum digital culture.
Exploring Culture
Paperback
Check
Exploring Culture
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
Urban Sprawl and Public Health
Save
Explores the relationship between public spaces and urban health, examining how access to green spaces, parks, and other public amenities can promote physical activity, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being.
Urban Sprawl and Public Health
Paperback
Check
Urban Sprawl and Public Health
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
The Death and Life of Great American Cities
Save
This classic work by Jane Jacobs argues that vibrant and successful cities are characterized by a diversity of uses, a mix of old and new buildings, and a strong sense of community. Jacobs's insights are essential reading for anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of public spaces.
The Death and Life of Great American Cities
Paperback
Check
The Death and Life of Great American Cities
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
The Image of the City
Save
Explores the ways in which people perceive and experience public spaces. Lynch's work is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding the design and planning of public spaces.
The Image of the City
Paperback
Check
The Image of the City
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
Hybrid Urbanism
Save
Explores the role of public spaces in democratic societies. AlSayyad's work is essential reading for anyone interested in the political and social dimensions of public spaces.
Hybrid Urbanism
Paperback
Check
Hybrid Urbanism
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
How to Study Public Life
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of the design and planning of public spaces. Gehl's work is essential reading for anyone interested in creating more livable and sustainable cities.
How to Study Public Life
Paperback
Check
How to Study Public Life
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
Introducing Social Geographies
Save
Explores the fear of crime in public spaces and its impact on people's use of public spaces. Pain's work is essential reading for anyone interested in the safety and security of public spaces.
Introducing Social Geographies
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
The Politics of Authenticity
Save
Explores the history and evolution of the public realm. Berman's work is essential reading for anyone interested in the changing nature of public space.
The Politics of Authenticity
Paperback
Check
The Politics of Authenticity
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
A Dictionary of Human Geography
Save
Provides a critical overview of the concept of public space. Rogers's work is essential reading for anyone interested in the theoretical and philosophical dimensions of public space.
A Dictionary of Human Geography (Oxford Quick...
Paperback
$$
A Dictionary of Human Geography (Oxford Quick...
Kindle Edition
$
Cover image
Kultur- und Kreativwirtschaft in Stadt und Region
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of public spaces in German cities. Kunzmann's work is essential reading for anyone interested in the design and planning of public spaces in Germany.
(Deutsch) Kultur- und Kreativwirtschaft in Stadt und Region:...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
A History of the World in 100 Objects
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of the history of museums, from their origins in the Renaissance to their present-day role in society. It is written by Neil MacGregor, a former director of the British Museum, and is based on his BBC Radio 4 series of the same name.
A History of the World in 100 Objects
Paperback
Check
A History of the World in 100 Objects
Kindle Edition
Check

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:
Facebook
LinkedIn
Reddit
X
Link
Email

Similar courses

Here are nine courses similar to Confronting Captain Cook: Memorialisation in museums and public spaces.
History of Photography 1839 to 1930s
Most relevant
Black Canadians: History, Presence, and Anti-Racist...
Most relevant
How To Do Fashion Design Research
Most relevant
A Brief History of India.
Most relevant
Your Guide To An Amazing Vacation In New York
Most relevant
"Making" Progress Teach-Out
Archaeology: from Dig to Lab and Beyond
Most relevant
Enhancing the Quality of Urban Life: Fifteen Winning...
Most relevant
Audio Description Principles and Practice
Most relevant

Futurelearn Buyer Protection & Guarantee

Verified partner policies & purchase protections

UK & International University Partner
Free Trial & Audit

Free Access on Short Courses

Free access option on most short courses for the duration of the course plus 14 days; free trial available on select subscriptions and tracks.

Return & Refund Policy

14-Day Cooling-Off Refund Window

14-day statutory cooling-off refund window from the date of purchase for course upgrades, Unlimited subscriptions, and ExpertTracks, provided no tests have been attempted and no certificates have been downloaded. Renewals are non-refundable.

Buyer Protections

Verified Academic & Industry Partner

Accredited university microcredentials and certificates from top institutions (British Council, leading UK and global universities), with secure payment safeguards.

Key Purchase Protections
Free access track on many short courses
14-day cooling-off refund window on initial purchases
Refund eligible if no tests completed and no certificate issued
Accredited certifications from top UK & global universities
OpenCourser Verified Partner Policy details last reviewed: 2026-10-22
Course image
Time
15 hours
Via
FutureLearn
Institution
National Maritime Museum Greenwich
Instructor
Julie Botticello
Share this
Share to help others discover this course.
Facebook LinkedIn X Reddit Link Email
Begin learning today
Enroll now to gain full access to Confronting Captain Cook.
Enroll now
Save for later
Add this course to your list. Find it anytime.
Save
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser