FRS 002II — Sec. 001 — (2 units) — CRN 53289 — T 12:10 – 2:00 pm — 25 Wellman Hall
When is a Doll? The Dissimilar Meaning of Similar Things

Instructor: Jon Wagner, School of Education

Description: This seminar explores how and why some inanimate, three dimensional human-looking objects are regarded as "dolls" while others are regarded as "action figures," "puppets," "mannequins," "dummies," "statues and statuettes," "sculptures," "knick-knacks," "toy figures," "totems" "figurines," or "models." In trying to answer this question we'll look into the social construction of meaningful objects, the intersection of material and non-material culture, and the social organization of knowledge. We'll also examine how material objects are used to support different forms and frames of social life, including: teaching, learning, work, play, worship, intimacy, marketing, politics, and research.

By examining selections from the social science and humanities "doll literature" students will also become acquainted with conflicting claims about idealism and materialism as theoretical approaches to understanding culture and social life.

Format: Class activities include mini-lectures and discussions of assigned readings, student presentations, short in-class writing assignments and the viewing and analysis of a wide range of .photographs, video tapes and "doll-like" artifacts. Assigned readings are drawn from anthropology, sociology, folklore, psychology, education, history, media studies and the arts. In addition to brief, in-class writing exercises, each student will write two short commentaries (500-750 words) that examine some of the artifacts presented in class in terms of course readings. Working in pairs, students will also write a short paper (1200-1500 words) that compares and contrasts: the production, use, distribution and meaning of two doll-like objects. Grading: Grades will be based on the following: 25% for each of the three writing assignments and 25% on classroom participation -- including in-class writing exercises and presentations.

About the Instructor: Jon Wagner is a professor in the School of Education who studies school organization and reform, children's material culture, and image-based research. He is currently studying how children and adults view the material culture of home and school he's also investigating two alternative high schools that emphasize "problem-based learning." Professor Wagner is recent past President of the International Visual Sociology Association and the Image Editor of Contexts magazine.