- Overview
- Module description
Things and Us: Ancient and Contemporary Material Culture (ARC2120)
| Staff | Dr Marisa Lazzari - Convenor |
|---|---|
| Credit Value | 15 |
| ECTS Value | 7.5 |
| NQF Level | 5 |
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Co-requisites | None |
| Duration of Module | Term 2: 11 weeks; |
Module aims
The module aims to develop an appreciation of the complex ways in which human life is interwoven with objects at various levels, from the personal and subjective to the wider collective and even global scales. It aims at deepening students understanding of the principles and methodologies involved in interpreting such complex entanglements, analysing and theorising related information. The module aims at developing a critically aware understanding of the human-non-human relationships in a variety of settings, in order to highlight commonalities and contrasts between modern and ancient lives.
ILO: Module-specific skills
- 1. Analyse and critique the different theories and perspectives developed to account for the mutuality between people and things
- 2. Discuss and critically assess the relevance of these frameworks in specific case studies
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
- 3. Critically reflect on the complex relationship between people and things across a variety of contexts and time periods
- 4. Integrate interdisciplinary approaches to build object interpretations
ILO: Personal and key skills
- 5. Compare and syntethise opposing views on complex topics
- 6. Show initiative and originality in tackling and solving research problems
- 7. Take part in group discussions, posing pertinent questions
- 8. Organise work efficiently with respect to deadlines
Syllabus plan
Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:
- Introduction: interdisciplinary approaches to material culture
- Modern material culture
- The enchantment of technology
- Meaning: how objects signify
- The Agency of things
- Object biographies
- Workshop – The memories of things
- Artefacts, taskscapes and landscape
- Making things & identities: tradition and change in craft skills learning
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | 131 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 18 | Lectures |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 1 | Workshop |
| Guided Independent Study | 131 | Guided independent study including reading, research and preparation for classes, presentation and assignments. |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workshop participation | 1 hour | 7 | Oral feedback from module instructor and peers |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written discussion | 40 | 1500 words | 1-2,5,8 | Mark and written comments |
| Written essay | 60 | 2000 words | 1-6,8 | Mark and written comments |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written discussion | Written discussion1500 words | 1-2,5,8 | Referral/deferral period |
| Written essay | Written essay 2000 words | 1-6,8 | Referral/deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Appadurai, A.1988. The Social Life of Things. CUP.
- Buchli, V., ed. 2002. The Material Culture Reader. Oxford: Berg.
- Dant, T. 2004. Materiality and society. Open University Press.
- Gell, A. 1998. Art and Agency. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
- Graves-Brown, P., ed. 2000. Matter, Materiality and Modern Culture. London: Routledge.
- Henare, A. and M. Holbrad . 2006. Thinking Through Things: Theorising Artefacts Ethnographically. Routledge.
- Ingold, T. 2000. The Perception of the Environment: Essays in Livelihood, Dwelling and Skill. London: Routledge.
- Knappett, C. 2005. Thinking Through Material Culture: An Interdisciplinary Perspective. Philadelphia: Penn Press.
- Latour, B. 2007. Reassembling the social: an introduction to actor-network theory. Routledge.
- Lemonnier, P. 2002. Technological choices: Transformations in Material Cultures since the Neolithic. Routledge.
- Miller, D. 1998. Material Cultures: Why Things Matter. Routledge
- Miller, D. 2009. Stuff. Polity Press.
Module has an active ELE page?
Yes
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
Available as distance learning?
No
Origin date
February 2012
Last revision date
25/04/2019
Key words search
Material Culture, Archaeology, Agency
