AMST 500 - American Material Culture

Fall 3 Staff.

This course uses a series of case studies to approach the material worlds of people in the United States, past and present. Studies vary but may focus on ethnic groups like the 19th century Pennsylvania Germans, the construction of regions such as Appalachia, the special circumstances of the Hmong and other refugees, the classification of objects as ‘folk’ or ‘fine,’ and the alteration of landscapes or structured environments over time. Each case study serves the dual functions of illuminating the role of material life in making and maintaining American identities and of introducing an interdisciplinary array of methods, fields of inquiry, and theories that assist interpretation of artifacts and their contexts. (Not offered 2013-2014)