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79515-01 - Practical course: Thinking with Objects (3 CP)
| Semester | fall semester 2026 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers | Alexandra-Miruna Manescu (miruna.manescu@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Learning objectives | This course invites students to explore the fascinating relationship between people and the objects that shape their worlds. Far beyond being passive remnants of the past, artefacts and material objects are approached as active cultural agents that carry meaning, influence social relationships, and reflect the values, identities, and power structures of the societies that produced them. Students will investigate how material culture helps us understand human experience across time and place. From everyday objects to works of art, ritual items, architecture, fashion, and technology, the course examines how material forms communicate ideas, construct identities, and participate in cultural memory and social transformation. Students will develop practical and analytical skills in examining and interpreting objects within their historical, cultural, and social contexts. They will learn how objects are produced, used, valued, exchanged, displayed, and understood, while engaging with key theories and methodologies in material culture studies. By the end of the course, students will be able to: * Critically analyse artefacts and material objects through interdisciplinary perspectives. * Examine the physical characteristics, production methods, and social lives of objects. * Understand how material culture contributes to meaning-making, identity formation, and value creation within societies. * Apply relevant theoretical frameworks to interpret the cultural significance and agency of objects. * Develop advanced skills in observation, research, interpretation, and critical thinking. * Engage confidently in professional and academic communication through essays, analytical reports, and oral presentations. * Gain familiarity with major histories, debates, and theories in material culture studies. Combining theory with hands-on analysis, this course encourages students to see the material world not simply as a backdrop to history and culture, but as a dynamic and influential force in shaping human societies. |
| Admission requirements | The number of participants is limited to 25 people. The places are assigned according to date of enrollment and subject of study. Priority will be given to the subjects listed under "modules". |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Tuesday | 10.15-12.00 | Ethnologie, grosser Seminarraum |
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 15.09.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Ethnologie, grosser Seminarraum |
| Tuesday 22.09.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Ethnologie, grosser Seminarraum |
| Tuesday 29.09.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Ethnologie, grosser Seminarraum |
| Tuesday 06.10.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Ethnologie, grosser Seminarraum |
| Tuesday 13.10.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Ethnologie, grosser Seminarraum |
| Tuesday 20.10.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Ethnologie, grosser Seminarraum |
| Tuesday 27.10.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Ethnologie, grosser Seminarraum |
| Tuesday 03.11.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Ethnologie, grosser Seminarraum |
| Tuesday 10.11.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Ethnologie, grosser Seminarraum |
| Tuesday 17.11.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Ethnologie, grosser Seminarraum |
| Tuesday 24.11.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Ethnologie, grosser Seminarraum |
| Tuesday 01.12.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Ethnologie, grosser Seminarraum |
| Tuesday 08.12.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Ethnologie, grosser Seminarraum |
| Tuesday 15.12.2026 | 10.15-12.00 | Ethnologie, grosser Seminarraum |
| Modules |
Module: Introduction to Social Anthropology (Bachelor's degree subject: Social Anthropology) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | no repetition |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Ethnologie |