Looking at, describing and identifying objects

Introduction

This OpenLearn course concentrates on describing objects. You will be reading and writing descriptions and considering why descriptions are important. Throughout the course you will be exploring how things and words written about things are inextricably linked.

You will focus on an object in isolation from the society which made it and work on developing the meaning of an unfamiliar object through the use of description.

Next you will focus on using observation as the basis for developing a model of an object life cycle (its production, consumption and afterlife) to structure an object biography.

Figure 1 The life cycle of objects

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This diagram shows three arrows each pointing clockwise. The arrow at upper left is accompanied by the words 'Afterlife (recycling, museumisation, display and representation).' The arrow at upper right is accompanied by the words 'Production (procurement of raw materials, design and manufacture).' The arrow at the bottom is accompanied by the words 'Consumption (use, gifting, exchange and discard).'

Figure 1 The life cycle of objects

The case study in this OpenLearn course is object-centred, in that it prioritises the history of individual objects, without excluding the need to understand the social group they belong to.

This course is an adapted extract from the Open University course A105 Voices, texts and material culture [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] .