Objects Through Time
Historic Material Culture Identification
ANT 3930 Fall 2013
Section 028E
Class Times W 3:00-6:00
Instructor: Karen McIlvoy
Class Room: Rinker 210
Office: Turlington 1208 B (on the first floor, NOT the basement)
Email:
Office Hours: Wednesdays 1-3
Course Description and Objectives:
The purpose of this course is to provide a basic introduction to the study of material culture as applied through an anthropological lens. This course is divided into two parts. The first part consists of weekly lectures about the nature of material culture, the role of objects in modern life, and theoretical approaches to the interpretation of materiality. In the second part of the course, students will learn the history, evolution, and identification of certain categories of material culture. Categories of material culture covered will include: clothing fasteners, gravestones, toys, weapons, and ceramics.
Required Textbooks:
1.Woodward, Ian. Understanding Material Culture. 2007.
2.Berger, Arthur Asa. What Objects Mean: An Introduction to Material Culture. 2009.
3.Mullins, Paul R. Glazed America: A History of the Doughnut. 2008.
4.Any additional readings will bemade available on the class e-learning website.
CLASS REQUIREMENTS
1.Exams:
There will be three exams, each worth 30 points. Exams are not cumulative and will consist of a mixture of objective questions (e.g., true false, multiple choice, etc), and short answer or essay questions.Exam questions will be based on material covered in lectures, readings, films, and in-class discussions. Exams will be given in class.
2. Trash Project:
For the first required project, the student will be required keep a record of every object they throw away in a 24 hour period of time. When turning in this list to the instructor, students will write a short summary of their activities during the time in question and discuss their own disposal habits. Students must turn in 1 copy of their list with their name, 1 copy of their list without their name, and 1 copy of their summary to the instructor. It will count for 25 points and is due in class September 4, 2013
The instructor will then redistribute the anonymous copies of the list to the class. Students will then be required to write a short essay interpreting the characteristics and/or daily activities of the unknown classmate using only the list of garbage. This essay must be at least 600 words (approx. 3-4 pages) Times New Roman, 12 pt font, double-spaced with 1-inch margins. It will count for 25 points and is due in class September 18, 2013.
3. Object Study:
For the second required project, the student will be required to research one material culture classification of their choosing (and with approval from the instructor) that is not a part of the class schedule. Students must describe the origin and development of that class of objects as well as provide basic identification, dating, and typologizing information.
Because it is important that students use appropriate research sources, an annotated bibliography of at least five (5) scholarly sources must be turned in and approved before the essay is due. Of the five minimum sources used, no more than two (2) may be online resources. All others must be appropriate print materials. This bibliography must be in proper AAA format, will count for 10 points, and is due in class October 23, 2013. Guides to scholarly sources and AAA citations will be provided on the class e-learning website.
The essay itself must be at least 2000 words (approx. 8-9 pages) Times New Roman, 12 pt font, double-spaced with 1-inch margins. References must be provided in proper AAA format (includes parenthetical citations). It will count for 50 points and is due in class December 4, 2013.
Attendance:
Attendance is not taken in this class, but is highly encouraged. Students not in attendance cannot make up exams. The only exception to this rule is if you clear an absence with the instructor prior to the absence or produce proper documentation afterwards (e.g. doctor’s note). Other than this stated exception, this policy is non-negotiable
Extra Credit:
Extra credit opportunities may arise during the semester and will be offered to the entire class. These opportunities will be announced in lecture.
Grading:
Exam135 pts17.5 %
Exam 235 pts17.5 %
Exam 335 pts17.5 %
Trash List15 pts7.5%
Trash Interpretation20 pts10%
Bibliography10pts5 %
Object Study Essay50 pts25 %
A final letter grade will be assigned at the end of the semester, according to this scale:
A(90-100%)
B+(86-89%)
B(80-85%)
C+ (76-79%)
C(70-75%)
D+(66-69%)
D(60-65%)
E (59% or below)
Make-up Exams:
If an exam is missed, and the absence was pre-arranged, or in the event of illness accompanied by a physician’s note, a make-up exam will be given. No make-up exams will be given for students who miss the testing period due to unexcused absences.
Student Conduct:
All students must comply with the Student Conduct Code which can found at Any behavior that interferes with either the instructor’s ability to conduct the class or the ability of other students to benefit from the instructional program will not be tolerated. Please turn off cell phones and all other electronic devices before class.
Texting during class is not allowed. Laptops may only be used to take notes. Disruptive students will be asked to leave.
Accommodating Students with Disabilities:
Students requesting classroom accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students Office. The Dean of Students Office will provide documentation to the student, who in turn must provide this documentation to me when requesting accommodation.
Academic Honesty:
The University reminds every student of the implied pledge of Academic Honesty:
“on any work submitted for credit the student has neither received nor given unauthorized aid.”
CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM WILL NOT BE TOLERATED IN THIS CLASS
Consult the Student Guide at for further information. To avoid plagiarism, you must give credit whenever you use another person’s idea, opinion, or theory; any facts, statistics, graphs, drawings (any pieces of information) that are not common knowledge; quotations of another person’s actual spoken or written words; or paraphrase of another person’s spoken or written words. Students caught cheating will be referred to the University administration for disciplinary action, the consequences of which can include failure of this course, and possible expulsion from the University.
Course Outline
Note: Though the basic structure will not change, the order of specific topics may change with advance notice.
Week 1 – 8/21
Lecture: Introduction to Course; What is Material Culture?
Readings: Berger 15-25, Woodward 3-16
Week 2 – 8/28
Lecture: What do we look at? Context and Typology
Material Category: Smoking Pipes
Readings: Berger 92-103, Mullins 11-25
Week 3 – 9/4
Lecture: The Life of an Object: The Chaîne Operatoire
Material Category: Projectile Points
Readings: Mullins 29-69,
Turn in Trash List
Week 4 – 9/11 – EXAM 1
Lecture: How Objects both Embody and Affect the Bigger Picture: Structuralism
Material Category: Houses
Readings: Woodward 57-61, 80-83
Week 5 – 9/18
Lecture: Production and Control: Marxism
Material Category: Ceramics (Part 1)
Readings: Berger 65-79, Woodward 35-41, Mullins 71-116
Turn in Trash Interpretation
Week 6 – 9/25
Lecture: Morality and Psychology
Material Category: Patent Medicines
Readings: Berger 27-37, Mullins 119-167
Week 7 – 10/2
Lecture:Advertising, Consumerism, and Globalization
Material Category: Cutlery
Readings: Woodward 171-175
Week 8 – 10/9
Lecture:Symbolism
Material Category:Ceramics (Part 2)
Readings: Woodward 98-107
Week 9 – 10/16 – EXAM 2
Lecture: Social Performance of Race
Material Category:Buttons and Beads
Readings: Woodward 153-166, Berger 59-63
Week 10 – 10/23
Lecture:Class
Material Category:Alcohol and Other Glass Bottles
Readings:Otto 1984
Turn in Bibliography
Week 11 – 10/30
Lecture:Gender
Material Category: Sewing Equipment
Readings: none
Week 12 – 11/6
Lecture:Death
Material Category: Tombstones
Readings:Deetz and Dethlefsen 1967
Week 13 – 11/13
Lecture: Childhood – GUEST LECTURE
Material Category:Dolls
Readings: TBA
Week 14 – 11/20
Lecture:Activity Areas and Space
Material Category: Nails and Tools
Readings:none
Week 15 – 11/27 – NO CLASS – YAY!
Week 16 – 12/4 – EXAM 3
Material Category:Toys and Games
Turn in Object Study Essay
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