Material Culture in Historical Context

Catalog description

Prerequisites: Graduate standing and consent of instructor. This course will present various theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of material culture. It will explore how the interpretation of objects has contributed to the understanding (or misunderstanding) of past and present cultures. The course will also examine contemporary museum practice in the display of material culture. Students will be expected to make on-site observations at different types of local museums, and will conduct research into a category of material culture that appeals to their individual interests.