72415 - Anthropology of Cultural Heritage (1)

Learning outcomes

This course aims to address the notion of material and immaterial patrimony, with reference to the domestic and international debate, and focusing on the main characteristics and interpretive models. On the basis of specific ethnographic contributions, the students will acquire research skills to carry out field work in communities, institutions and museums. The course will provide a basis to continue relevant training at higher educational levels.

Course contents

Classes begin 14 November 2016 (I semester, II period)

Mon, Tue, Wed h 15-17 aula Grande

San Giovanni in Monte

 

Things that talk about us

Starting with the definition of material culture, the aim of this course is to address the notions of instrumentality and expressivity in objects, and to discuss how these are treasured and patrimonialized according to the interpretation of UNESCO’s cultural policies.

Attending students will be involved in research activities starting with the observation of real data, which will provide the basis for specific theoretical reflection. Students will be asked to carry out teamwork activities to acquire specific research skills related to fieldwork.

More specifically, students are invited to carry out a small fieldwork-based study (not mandatory but recommended): they shall select a museum and visit it to collect data on one type of selected objects. Research reports shall be written in team by using Dropbox. In particular, this fieldwork ethnographic study entails the following:

1. Selecting a museum and some objects therein (objects that may be grouped by type, genre, semantic value and so on for different reasons);
2. Writing a description of how these objects are exhibited within the museum under consideration, i.e. focusing on the modalities, techniques, and features of the exhibition;
3. Writing a proposal in which an alternative form of exhibition is hypothesized;
4. Presenting the results and conclusions in class;
5. Writing a short research report which will be assessed for the final examination (the report shall include the text on the selected museum and of the objects, the description of the exhibition conditions, the text on the alternative exhibition proposed, a brief final comment). Useful material for the fieldwork experience will be provided during the classes or posted online (see the “materiali utili” / useful material link on the professor’s personal webpage).

During the course the following subjects will be addressed:

• history of material culture
• the value of objects
• -objects and relationality
• positioning and exhibition
• cultural objects and assets
• patrimonialization processes
• UNESCO’s directives

At the end of the course the student shall be able to:

• Collaboratively develop a model to analyze a museum and to be applied to fieldwork ethno-anthropological research.
• Take advantage of the Internet as a framework enabling self-study and collaborative learning; also knowing the implications of an open, real, and participatory space to develop collaborative writing techniques and strategies online using Dropbox.
• Read, analyze, summarize, understand, and explain explicit and implicit information (in particular scientific papers) on ethnographic theories related to objects and museums.
• Apply fieldwork ethnographic research techniques and develop the necessary skills to collect, process, analyze, and interpret genuine empirical data within a museum setting.
• Recognize and manage the ethnographic variables involved in museum fieldwork research.
• Use different research tools that are necessary to hypothesize an exhibition project.

 

Readings/Bibliography

Exam material for attending students

1) Warnier J-P., La cultura materiale, Meltemi, Roma 2005 (chapters I, II, III, IV).

2) Bernardi S., Dei F., Meloni P., La materia del quotidiano. Per un'antropologia degli oggeti ordinari, Pacini, Roma 2011.

3) Dispensa ad uso didattico disponibile presso Bonomo Editore Via Zamboni 53/A, Bologna oppure scaricabile in formato e-book nel sito www.bonomoeditore.com

Exam material for non attending students

1) Warnier J-P., La cultura materiale, Meltemi, Roma 2005

2) Bernardi S., Dei F., Meloni P., La materia del quotidiano. Per un'antropologia degli oggeti ordinari, Pacini, Roma 2011.

3) University pantry available at Bonomo Editore Via Zamboni 53/A, Bologna or e-book in www.bonomoeditore.com

Dispensa ad uso didattico disponibile presso Bonomo Editore Via Zamboni 53/A, Bologna oppure scaricabile in formato e-book (non scaricabile) nel sito www.bonomoeditore.com

4) Daniel Miller, Cose che parlano di noi. Un antropologo a casa nostra, il Mulino, Bologna 2014.

More specific books

Appadurai A., The Social Life of Things: Commedities in Cultural Perspective, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1986

Bartoletti R., La narrazione delle cose. Analisi socio-comunicativa degli oggetti, FrancoAngeli, Milano 2007

Baudrillard J., Il sistema degli oggetti, Bompiani, Milano 2004

Bodei R., La vita delle cose, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2009.

Caoci A. e Lai F., Gli “oggetti culturali”. L’artigianato tra estetica, antropologia e sviluppo locale, Franco Angeli, Milano 2007

Cirese A.M., Beni volatili, stili, musei : diciotto altri scritti su oggetti e segni, a cura di Pietro Clemente, Gianfranco Molteni, Gli ori, Prato 2007.

Clemente P., L’antropologia del patrimonio culturale in L.Faldini, E.Pili, a cura di Saperi antropologici, media e società civile nell’Italia contemporanea, Atti del 1 Convegno Nazionale dell’ANUAC, Roma, CISU, 2011, pp. 295 – 317.

Clifford J., “I musei come zone di contatto” in Strade. Viaggio e traduzione alla fine del secolo XX, Bollati Boringhieri, 2008

Douglas M e Isherwood B., Il mondo delle cose, Il mulino, Bologna 1984.

Julien M. P. et Warnier J. P., Approches de la culture matérielle. Corps à corps avec l’objet. L’Harmattan, Paris 1999.

Kopytoff I., La biografia culturale degli oggetti: la mercificazione come processo [1986], pp. 77-111, in Mora E. (curatore), Gli attrezzi per vivere. Forme della produzione culturale tra industria e vita quotidiana, Edizioni di Vita e Pensiero, Milano 2005.

La Cecla, F., Non è cosa. Vita affettiva degli oggetti, Elèuthera. Milano 1998.

Latour B., 2005, Il culto Moderno dei fatticci, Roma, Meltemi [tit. or., Petite réflexion sur le culte moderne des dieux faitiches, Sinthelabo, 1996].

Maffi I. (a cura di), Il patrimonio culturale, Meltemi, Roma 2006.

Miller D., Per un’antropologia delle cose, Ledizioni 2013.

Perec G., Le cose: una storia degli anni Sessanta, Einaudi, Torino 2011

Pomian Krzysztof, 2004, Dalle sacre reliquie all’arte moderna: Venezia-Chicago dal XIII al XX secolo, Milano, Il Saggiatore [tit. or. Des saintes reliques à l’art moderne: Venise-Chicago, XIIIe-XXe siècle, Paris, Gallimard, 2003].

Rheims M., Le vie étrange des objets, Paris, Libraire Plon, Paris 1959

Riccini R., Imparare dalle cose. La cultura materiale nei musei, Clueb, Bologna 2003

Rigotti F., Il pensiero delle cose, Apogero, Milano 2007

Solinas P.G. (a cura di), Gli oggetti esemplari. I documenti di cultura materiale in antropologia, Ed. del Grifo, Montepulciano 1989

Warnier, J. P. La cultura materiale, Meltemi, Roma 2005.

Teaching methods

Traditional lectures will alternate with seminars for in-depth discussion in which students are invited to actively take part with personal investigations, presentations and reports concerning the proposed issues.

For those who accept to take part in the fieldwork assignment, part of the programme will be completed by using Dropbox: this activity will be based on collaborative writing applied to ethnographic research through the use of collaborative digital tools. In order to familiarize with theory and put it into practice, the students will be asked to write some texts about museological analysis considering a case study.

Assessment methods

The final examination is an interview. The students will be asked some questions concerning the texts included in the syllabus and the subjects presented in them.

For attending students, the assessment of the final interview is complemented with the research report on the fieldwork simulation (for those who may take part in it) and with specific questions on the subjects discussed in class.

Exam registration should be completed via the Almaesami website.

Assessment criteria:

• Teamwork and problem solving skills
• Quantity and quality of each student’s participation on Dropbox
• Active participation in seminar and class discussion: ability to present, contrast, and defend one’s ideas with data that are relevant to the proposed subjects
• In-depth and detailed knowledge of the syllabus texts
• Argument and critical skills
• Language appropriateness

The evaluation of the written report will consider the typical conventions of academic writing (orthography, layout, and presentation), and also the ability to ponder, analyze, and draw conclusions.

Assessment methods

The final examination is an interview. The students will be asked some questions concerning the texts included in the syllabus and the subjects presented in them.

For attending students, the assessment of the final interview is complemented with the research report on the fieldwork simulation (for those who may take part in it) and with specific questions on the subjects discussed in class.

Exam registration should be completed via the Almaesami website.

Assessment criteria:

• Teamwork and problem solving skills
• Quantity and quality of each student’s participation on Dropbox
• Active participation in seminar and class discussion: ability to present, contrast, and defend one’s ideas with data that are relevant to the proposed subjects
• In-depth and detailed knowledge of the syllabus texts
• Argument and critical skills
• Language appropriateness
• The evaluation of the written report will consider the typical conventions of academic writing (orthography, layout, and presentation), and also the ability to ponder, analyze, and draw conclusions.

Teaching tools

Multimedia tools will be used, e.g. audio recordings and videos. For some fieldwork activities the students will work in a team and use collaborative digital tools, such as Dropbox.

Slides and Power Point presentations will also be used in some classes.

Links to further information

https://www.facebook.com/laecm.ssdea

Office hours

See the website of Francesca Sbardella