Material Culture
Volume horaire : 36
Description du contenu de l'enseignement :
Course description and objectives
The study of material culture centers upon objects, the materials that they are made of, and the ways in which they provide an understanding of cultural and social relations. Over the last 20 years, the human and social sciences have taken a “material turn” with a new focus on the study of objects in their physical reality as a way of giving meaning to and explaining the economic, social and symbolic world. This study will explore the intertwined, and often dialectic, relationships between people and things.
Material culture, which Michel de Certeau once praised as “the history of everday life”, has taken a newfound interest in the expression of the human subject through his/her objects, stimulating thoughts on the uses of such objects, as well as the affects and values they form (Baudrillard, Système des objets).
The ever-changing world of material culture has recently taken an interest in interactions between the object and it user or consumer. In this aspect, the recent American initiative BND (Buy Nothing Day) was born out of society's questioning of the power of goods and, more generally, the new relationship emerging between being and having in this era of globalized consumption.
This course will examine concrete cases, enriched through an interdisciplinary approach.
A new consideration will be given to the vast corpus of different object worlds that we constantly experience. From food to fashion, to toys and smart phones, the aim is to make objects talk and also understand what they are telling (of) us.
Objectives:
Material culture examines the relationships between people and things.
The aim of this class is to introduce some accessible approaches to this exciting and new field of academic enquiry, which crosses disciplinary boundaries.
Students will become acquainted with the kinds of objects that are considered in the study of material culture. The course will also provide an opportunity to practice communication skills and develop confidence in delivering presentations in English on material culture topics, maximizing the effective use of visual aids.
Some questions we will explore include: how is the value or significance of objects created in different social contexts? Should we understand items of material culture as ways of fulfilling human needs? Or rather as symbols that "say" something about their users, and if so, what?
Course structure
Introduction to Material Culture
(Methodology & Class assessments)
Of People and Smartphones: A Culture of (Dis)connection
The 3 R’s: “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”
Waste Management and Recycled Materials
Minimalism: A Documentary about the Important Things, by Joshua Fields Milburn & Ryan Nicodemus
Political & Propaganda Artifacts
Promoting Ideas Through Things
The Use of Pictures
Photography as Objects in the Digital Age
Patchwork as an Art Form: Why Quilts Matter
Fashion as Dress, Image and Practice
The Cult(ure) of Food
From Still Life to Food Porn
Dolls
Playthings, Transitional Objects, Social Agents
Why Collecting?
Jewelry
Displays of Personal Adornment and Body Art
Final Exam
Pré-requis obligatoires :
Prerequisites
- open-minded attitude regarding general interest topics
- reasonably fluent in written and oral English (B2 level)
- familiar with the general requirements for academic presentations
- able to attend all sessions, including the final exam
Compétence à acquérir :
Learning outcomes
By looking at the diversity of material forms, students will gain an appreciation for the ways that “things” help us to connect to the world and see it in a new way, and the ways “things” give meaning to our lives and the lives of those around us.
Mode de contrôle des connaissances :
Assignments and grading
- One oral presentation (on one of the 10 topics listed below)
- One mid-term quiz
- One final exam
The numerical grade distribution will dictate the final grade. The passing grade for a course is 10/20.
Class participation: Active class participation – this is what makes classes lively and instructive. Come on time and prepared. Class participation is based on quality of comments, not quantity.
Exam policy: In the exam, students will not be allowed to bring any document (except if allowed by the lecturer). Unexcused absences from exams or failure to submit cases will result in zero grades in the calculation of numerical averages. Exams are collected at the end of examination periods.
Bibliographie, lectures recommandées
Bibliography
·Jean Baudrillard,
Système des objets, 1968.
·Victor Buchli,
The Material Culture Reader, 2013.
- Michel de Certeau, L’invention du quotidien, 1980.
- Marie-Pierre Julien et Céline Rosselin, La culture matérielle, 2005.
- Daniel Miller, Stuff, 2009 et Consumption and Its Consequences, 2013.
·Paul R. Mullins,
The Archaeology of Consumer Culture, 2012.
- Christopher Tilley, The Handbook of Material Culture, 2013.
- Ian Woodward, Understanding Material Culture, 2007.
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