Assignment due July 5: Practice for the First Paper

Since so many of you indicated you'll be out of town on July 3 for the holiday weekend, we won't be meeting as a class. However, you still need to complete this informal assignment, which is a practice run for your paper.

1. Pick a three-dimensional object and place it in front of you. It cannot be the object you will use in your first paper or one we have discussed in class.

2. Take out a large sheet of paper (or tape two 8.5" x 11" sheets together, with the longer sides attached to create a 17" x 11" sheet).

3. In list format on the left-hand side of the page, describe the object.

4. Based on your list of descriptions, make deductions. List these to the right of the descriptions.

5. Draw arrows or lines to connect the appropriate descriptions with the relevant deductions. A deduction may be connected to more than one description.

6. Based on your deductions, make speculations. List these to the right of the deductions.

7. Draw arrows or lines to connect the appropriate deductions with the relevant speculations. A speculation may be connected to more than one deduction.

8. Across the top or bottom of the page, write an argument about this object based on your speculations. Draw a box around it to draw attention to it.

9. Write your name on the top right or left corner.

10. Turn this page in to me on July 5.

Day 3 images: quilts and scrapbooking

This lecture had too many images to post, so I'm including a few representative images:










For your listening and viewing pleasure:

From class
The Quilts of Gee's Bend (on PBS)

For the curious
Gee's Bend quilts (on NPR)
The women of Gee's Bend (on NPR)
Rumspringa: Amish Teens Venture into Modern Vices (on NPR)
Increasing drug and alcohol use by Amish teenagers (on NPR)
American quilts (on PBS)

Day 2 images: hats

PBS video: Tradition of Hats in the African-American Church

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Welcome to the AMS 21 course blog on material culture.

I'll post course information, assignments, links, and relevant images here. Please be sure to check often for updates.