Introduction to the AT&T Teaching Theatre
Introduction to the AMST 205 Home Page
What is American Studies?
What is material culture?

Working vocabulary for Culture Studies
Surfing the Internet: ISO Exhibitions

Words vs. Things debate

READINGS: "American Studies: Words or Things?" by John Kouwenhoven; "The Challenge of the Artifact," by Wm. Hesseltine (in coursepack)

Instruction in HTML

PROJECT #1 ASSIGNED

Artifact Study--One way to do it!

READINGS: "Artifact Study: A Proposed Model," by E. McClung Fleming (in coursepack)

Artifact Study--Fieldwork exercise and quiz

Artifact Study--Another perspective!
The Social Lives of Things
Work session and instruction on Project #1 exhibition

READINGS: Lury, Consumer Culture, pp. 1-26

Work session on Project #1 Exhibition

DUE: Draft of Project #1 Mounted on Web

Presentation of exhibitions of artifacts representative of contemporary college life

DUE: PROJECT #1
PROJECT #2 ASSIGNED

On the uses and meanings of museums in American society
How to construct a museum exhibition review

DUE: Hypertext Links for PROJECT #1

Historical Fallacies and Reflections exercise
How to critique a virtual museum exhibition

READING: Thomas J. Schlereth, "Collecting Ideas and Artifacts: Common Problems of History Museums and History Texts" (in coursepack)

Exercise in archaeological reconstruction

READING: Horace Miner, "Body Ritual Among the Nacirema" (in coursepack)

Time Capsule exercise and Superartifacts

Production, Consumption and Modern Consumer Culture

READING: Lury, Consumer Culture, pp. 29-39, 51- 78.

Objects, Lifestyles, Class, and the Concept of "Habitus"

READING: Lury, Consumer Culture, pp. 79-101.

Work Session on Project #2 Exhibition

DUE: DRAFT OF PROJECT #2 Mounted on Web

Discussion of Project #2: Museum Exhibition Review

DUE: PROJECT #2
PROJECT #3 ASSIGNED

Artifacts of Appearance or Lifestyle from the Perspective of Class or Gender

READING: Lury, Consumer Culture, pp. 118-120, 124-155.

Artifacts of Appearance or Lifestyle from the Perspective of Race or Youth Cultures

READING: Lury, Consumer Culture, pp. 156-174, 192-225.

Artifacts, Identity, and Our Participation in Consumer Culture

READING: Lury, Consumer Culture, pp. 226-256.

Discussion of Project #3: Artifacts of Appearance or Lifestyle in the Context of Modern Consumer Culture

DUE: PROJECT #3
PROJECT #4 ASSIGNED

Fieldtrip to the Greenbelt Museum and Optional Walking Tour of Greenbelt, MD*

*Alternative Date for those unable to make it to Greenbelt during Nov. 13th class period: Sunday, Nov. 16th, 1-5 pm.

READING: Resettlement Administration, "Model City: Greenbelt, Maryland," and Jane Brown Gillette, "Back to the Future: Utopian Housing Survives in Greenbelt, MD" (articles will be handed out in class).

Viewing of "The City"

Introduction to Living Spaces and Cultural Landscapes
Resources for Studying Life in Greenbelt

READING: Jeremy Korr, "A Proposed Model for Cultural Landscape Study" (to be handed out in class)

Work session on understanding Greenbelt, MD

No Class--Thanksgiving

Living space and Lifestyle Comparisons and Contrasts in Consumption

READING: Review Lury, Consumer Culture, pp. 52- 101.

Work session on Project #4

DUE: DRAFT OF PROJECT #4 Mounted on Web

Presentations of Project #4

DUE: PROJECT #4

Conclusion: Artifacts and American Life

FINAL PORTFOLIO DUE by 10:00 a.m. in Rm 2125, Taliaferro Hall