Living in a Material World: The Social Lives of Objects
Class | This program is completed
Do material things have “lives” – histories, biographies, personalities, feelings? Do we act as though they do? Do we possess them or do they possess us? What is the difference between junk and an antique? What makes an object into art or a stone into a precious gem? Join me in exploring how different types of things – found objects in the natural landscape, objects imbued with spiritual power, art, memorials, family heirlooms – create social meaning in our lives. Why do we collect some things and yet have difficulty getting rid of others? You don’t need to have any prior expertise to join this class, although avid collectors are welcome!
Format: We will be covering a different category of objects each week (e.g., sacred objects or art collections). Participants will be encouraged to prepare short presentations or facilitate discussions each week on a topic of their choice related to the category under consideration. Occasional guest speakers and optional field excursions TBA.
Resources/Expenses: Our discussions will be prompted by short readings or film clips each week. Most will be readily available in public libraries or on the internet at a minimal cost.
Donna Kerner
Donna Kerner is a cultural anthropologist who has lived much of her life in East Africa and the South Pacific conducting field research. Her research interests include Gender and Famine; Education and Class Mobility; Material Culture and Memory; and Entrepreneurship/Micro Finance. She is Professor Emerita at Wheaton College where she taught for thirty-three years and held the William Isaac Cole Endowed Chair.