This course will first define essential aspects of the material and analyse different theoretical approaches to the study of material culture. We will then investigate how ‘stuff’of material culture (landscapes, objects, clothing, paraphernalia of the everyday environment) mediates contemporary identity in the context of a globalised culture and examine how the interplay between design, form, and function is represented by media as embodying cultural value. We will reflect on the nature of consumption, consider the politics of value of commodities, and explore how media are transformed into signs of global material culture.
Material objects are everywhere in our lives, from clothing to household goods to the urban and natural environments. We use them to make meaning, individually and collectively, and to communicate about ourselves. To explore this rich territory, we’ll follow objects of all kinds as they are designed, marketed, circulated, consumed and disposed of, and we’ll examine what this cycle reveals about what our cultures value.
| Day | Start Time | End Time |
|---|---|---|
|
Thursday
|
09:00
|
10:20
|