Material Culture Studies is an interdisciplinary field that investigates the appearances, roles and histories of material forms - "things" - ranging from art works, cars, museum exhibitions to food and landscapes. What can be classified as "material culture" is one of the questions the course seeks to unravel. Truly interdisciplinary in nature, Material Culture Studies applies theories and methods from a broad field of disciplines, including anthropology, archaeology, art history, consumption studies, museum studies and sociology. The course aims to develop a critical understanding of how "things" and people interact and the ways in which the material world is integral to value creation processes. The course will also pay attention to the forms of things. Any traces or forms we encounter have a materiality - be it tangible or intangible - that can be explored to reveal their connection to the world of experience.

Key course topics:

The specific topics will be available at the beginning of the semester in which the course is taught. However, indicative topics studied may include:

• Materiality and material culture
• Landscape and Environment
• Art and aesthetics
• Technology
• Consumption and consumer culture
• Objects, memory and biography
• Colonialism, museum and collecting
• Heritage
• Style and Form
• Objects in social context and performance
• Colour
• Clothing and body
• Food cultures

Course aims:

On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Evaluate objects as important cultural and social entities that are integral to value creation processes in our society in addition to being able to analyse their forms.
2. Demonstrate conceptual and analytical skills to interpret the meanings and uses of material culture and how material culture interrogates the limits of humanity.
3. Synthesise key concepts from Material Culture Studies, and demonstrate effective communication and independent conceptual thinking relevant to research focused on materiality.
4. Apply theoretical and methodological skills to research relevant to the field of Material culture studies and other sub-plans.

Learning outcomes:

1. To gain skills in written and verbal expression for a variety of relevant academic purposes that include essay, analytical text and oral in-class presentation.
2. To develop skills in interdisciplinary thinking and the ability to apply relevant theoretical ideas to examine "things".
3. To gain skills required for humanities and social sciences research at the standard of a postgraduate degree, particularly skills to conduct research using qualitative approaches.

All other courses in Liberal Arts program, especially those from Museums and Collections, Visual Culture Research, and Cultural and Environmental Heritage sub-plans.