AMST205 - Junior Colloquium: Vernacular Architecture as Material Culture

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Academic Year 2005/2006

Junior Colloquium: Vernacular Architecture as Material Culture
AMST 205 SP

This colloquium will introduce material culture theory and its practical application in the study of vernacular architecture--the 95% of the built environment designed and built outside of high-style academic tradition. Products of time, place, and people, vernacular buildings are important sources for understanding American culture. Domestic buildings in particular provide insight into popular fashions, ethnic history, technology, gender relations, and social ideals. Students will learn to read, document, and interpret buildings, neighborhoods, and landscapes. They will integrate artifact analysis with research of primary and secondary source materials. Readings and discussions will explore topics in archaeology, architectural history, building technology, folklife studies, and historic preservation. Preference to American Studies juniors and seniors; non-majors in order of seniority.

MAJOR READINGS

Stuart Brand, HOW BUILDINGS LEARN: WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THEY'RE BUILT
Thomas Carter and Elizabeth Collins Cromley, INVITATION TO VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE: A GUIDE TO THE STUDY OF BUILDINGS AND LANDSCAPES
James Deetz, IN SMALL THINGS FORGOTTEN: THE ARCHEOLOGY OF EARLY AMERICAN LIFE
Norman M. Isham and Albert F. Brown, EARLY CONNECTICUT HOUSES: AN HISTORICAL AND ARCHITECTURAL STUDY
Robert Blair St. George, ed., MATERIAL LIFE IN AMERICA: 1600-1860
Dell Upton and John Michael Vlach, eds., COMM ON PLACES: READINGS IN AMERICAN VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE
Elizabeth A. Warner, A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF MIDDLETOWN
Gwendolyn Wright, BUILDING THE DREAM: A SOCIAL HISTORY OF HOUSING IN AMERICA

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Fieldwork assignments; in-class presentations; final research and documentation project focused on a Middletown building.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

This course requires multiple fieldtrips. We will visit--on foot--multiple sites on campus and in nearby Middletown throughout the semester, and we will visit at least one site outside Middletown. A small course fee will be charged for the out-of-town field trip.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS AMST Grading Mode: Graded

Prerequisites: NONE

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): Zurier,Sarah Elisabeth

Times: ..T.... 01:10PM-04:00PM; Location: CAMS 3;

Reserved Seats: (Total Limit: 15)

SR. major: 3 Jr. major: 2

SR. non-major: 5 Jr. non-major: 5 SO: 0 FR: 0

Special Attributes:

Curricular Renewal: Reading Non-Verbal Texts, Writing

Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-30-2006