ClassInfo

Drawing on tools from art history, folklore, and anthropology, we will consider material creations such as gravestones, homes and gardens, graffiti, textiles, pottery, tools, furniture, tattoos, charms, and home altars, as well as displays, costumes, and props created for festivals and rituals.

Examples will range from those predating European contact through the present, and will include pieces from many different ethnic groups and subcultures. At the heart of this course are several key questions: How do individuals draw on tradition to artistically shape their world in ways that make sense in their communities and times? How are artistic traditions taught, spread, and transformed within communities and in the interactions between groups? What are some of the ways in which scholars have documented and analyzed the visual aspects of folklife? What assumptions do we make when we look at material creations across gaps of culture or time?

30% of your grade will be based on participation (class discussion, attendance, and postings on Moodle). The exercise will count for 5%, the quiz for 10%, the final project for 30% (10% for part one, 20% for part two), and the exam for 25%. I will also take into account substantial improvement over the course of the semester. Incompletes will be offered only if arrangements are made before the final week of the semester, and only for students who have a legitimate chance of earning a passing grade once all work is submitted.