(Well, 4 of 13 is not bad for an image . . . )

Each week explores a different approach to the study of things. Material culture studies, archaeology, science studies, design studies, consumption studies, the sociology of technology, phenomenology, etc.; the course will explore a range of approaches in dealing with 13 things: the wheel, a Neolithic Megalith, an Ancient Greek perfume jar, the castle of Acrocorinth, a Moroccan watermill, a map, the pocket watch, barbed wire, the light bulb, a surgical blade, the portable radio, a Leica IIIc 35mm camera, and the personal computer. Placing emphasis on questions of human/thing relations, the course critically questions the importance of goods, artifacts and stuff for humanity. Designed to appeal to a wide range of students, the course builds a rich toolkit to aid in the ‘unpacking’ of thing from a number of angles. Students are charged with the task of selecting a thing, whether ancient or contemporary, and researching it using the perspectives encountered in the course.