MATERIAL CULTURE OF CHILDHOOD
Explores the histories of Children and Childhood and a set of scholarly methods called Material Culture. How have changing understandings of child development, social and cultural history, and the history of the family shaped and been shaped by children's material worlds? Explores design and material culture topics that illuminate how histories of young children have been understood and treated and considers objects that reflect the experiences of young people, from birth through school age-clothing for babies and children, garments that mark aging and transitions, histories of homes and interior furnishings, toys and play things, objects for learning, and material objects related to caregiving.
Prerequisites & course information
Requisites: Sophomore standing Course Designation: Core GenEd - Humanities & Arts Level - Intermediate L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Interpret theoretical and historical texts in Material Culture, applying the concepts to written and oral explanations Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Evaluate objects and images as sources of social and cultural information from a material culture perspective Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Describe and write about the historical development of the concept of childhood and the influence of material culture on its construction Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Explore and test how concepts of childhood are closely connected to ideas about race, gender, class, ethnicity, religion/faith, and socioeconomic class--and all of those distinctions are reflected materially. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Practice conducting object-based research and writing. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 6. Propose and draft a scholarly project focused on the material culture of childhood that aims to make an original contribution to your field. Audience: Graduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Interpret theoretical and historical texts in Material Culture, applying the concepts to written and oral explanations Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Evaluate objects and images as sources of social and cultural information from a material culture perspective Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Describe and write about the historical development of the concept of childhood and the influence of material culture on its construction Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Explore and test how concepts of childhood are closely connected to ideas about race, gender, class, ethnicity, religion/faith, and socioeconomic class--and all of those distinctions are reflected materially. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Practice conducting object-based research and writing. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 6. Propose and draft a scholarly project focused on the material culture of childhood that aims to make an original contribution to your field. Audience: Graduate
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027