VISD 2003 Object Biography Assignment
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VISD 2003 Object Biography Assignment
VISD-2003 Fall 2020 Object Biography Instructions-Rev.
Each object has a story to tell—a life—that shapes and is shaped by its time and place and human intentions and use. This assignment asks you to consider an object as a social actor, whose individual qualities and lifecycle gives insight into its material and technological circumstances and social contexts. The goal is to develop an object-based learning approach for understanding and interpreting material culture.
VISD 2003 Object Biography Assignment
Instructions:
For your object of study, choose a material arts object. This object can be any functional object, preferably one that is historical and not mass-produced—so, no artworks, industrial design, architecture, or interior design—check with me if you are unsure. Also, it may not be something you yourself have made. If at all possible, choose an object that you are familiar with and have seen first-hand.
Object Biography 1 (due Oct. 9)
Object Biography 2 (due Oct. 30)
Object Biography 3 (due Nov. 20)
VISD 2003 Object Biography Assignment
- Research your object in order to answer the following questions:
What is it? (Description)
The physical analysis of an object requires careful, systematic, first-hand observation. When scholars describe material objects, they begin by recording basic facts first: object type, size, material, and any outstanding features and then by noting secondary characteristics that are distinguishing features, such as ornamentation, texture, weight, signs of wear, and other details. Your description must be in your own words, using discipline-appropriate terminology. If you do not know what you are looking at, do research!
Why is it this way? (Original Context)
The kind of information observed in the previous step will provide clues to make deductions about the object’s original context. Support these inferences through other examples and research. Address how the following factors affected the object’s materiality: the available technology, aesthetic systems (period and cultural style), economics (e.g., use of materials acquired through trade, the monetary value of the media or techniques used, etc.), and the social relations of the community that produced the object (e.g., as a gift, burial object, part of a ritual, souvenir, etc.). The material of the object may make it possible to specify where it was produced, especially if there is other evidence about centers of production.
Where is it now and how did it get there? (Provenance)
The history of ownership is an object’s provenance. The object may have identifying marks, such as a date, a location, a manufactory stamp, a signature, or an inscription. In addition, the museum label or database will give some, if not all, of an object’s ownership history. Consider too how and why the object changed hands and locations throughout its lifecycle. What does where the object was found (tomb, hoard, church, attic, garage sale, etc.), and how the current owner eventually acquired it, indicate about the object’s life as a product?
What is it for? (Use)
Objects typically have more than one function, with some uses more obvious than others. The primary function of an object is that for which it was originally made and used.
Close observation of an object and its context can help establish function. Look for wear patterns to indicate how something was used. Looking at multiple examples of the same object can help determine “normal” use.
Beware of making assumptions, however! The function of coins may seem obvious: they are used as currency. Coins may also have symbolic value connected with identity, rulership, status, etc. Sometimes clues about usage are found in the coins themselves (for example, a hole at the top can indicate that it was worn on a necklace).
What did it mean to the person/s who made, owned, or used it? How is it valued today? (Meaning)
Consider the culture or cultures that valued the object. Did it have ritual or social meanings? What does its meaning/s reveal about the politics, religion, and social dynamics of the culture that made it? What does this object mean to us today—why has it been kept?
The information gathered in the previous step may reveal how the object was used or perceived in different settings, perhaps in ways unintended by its maker. An object produced for practical function in daily life may acquire symbolic value at a later time (for example, a gift or heirloom). Or, an object’s original function may become irrelevant, outmoded, or forgotten because people no longer know how the object was originally used.
Interpreting the meaning of an object can be controversial. If you find in your research a lack of consensus, or recent scholarship that contradicts earlier conclusions, include this in your discussion.
- Organize your research findings into an essay that tells a coherent life story: introduce the object, relate its significant features and circumstances, and explain its roles throughout its life.
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VISD 2003 Object Biography Assignment
Format:
- 1250-1500 words or approximately 5-6 double-spaced pages (excluding title page, image/s and Works Cited); typed, 12pt font, double-spaced, one-inch margins.
- Include at least one large, clear photograph of your object on your title page. Note: all images should be captioned.
- You may NOT quote, but may only paraphrase your sources. Every paraphrase must include an in-text citation in MLA format, with a Works Cited at the end. You must cite a minimum of three reliable and authoritative sources. At least one of these sources should be in-depth. Please Note: ANY cutting-and-pasting—i.e., plagiarism—will result in a grade of “0.”
- Upload your object biography to Canvas. The uploaded document may not exceed 5MB (reduce the file size or submit two documents).
Examples of object biographies:
- A History of the World in 100 Objects (The British Museum/BBC)
- The Pitt Rivers Founding Collection
This assignment has been adapted from Activity-Based Learning, Harvard University at https://ablconnect.harvard.edu/.
VISD 2003 Object Biography Assignment
Grading Rubric (out of 12 points):
| Criteria | Rating:
Excellent |
Rating:
Good |
Rating:
Fair |
Rating:
Poor |
| Answers the Questions | 5 – 4 | 4 – 3.4 | 3.4 – 3 | 3 – 0 |
| Biography has a clear perspective, analyses are accurate and knowledgeable; interpretations are credible. | ||||
| Use of Evidence | 4 – 3.2 | 3.2 – 3 | 3 – 2.6 | 2.6 – 0 |
| Makes persuasive deductions from observation; provides specific and relevant examples; gives strong, compelling support drawn from course materials and credible sources; examples and sources are used correctly. | ||||
| Mechanics | 3 – 2.4 | 2.4 – 2 | 2 – 1.6 | 1.6-0 |
| Essay is well-organized; uses discipline-appropriate vocabulary; few typos; no repetitions; follows all directions. | ||||
| TOTAL | 12 – 9.6
100%-80% |
9.6 – 8.4
80%-70% |
8.4 – 7.2
70%-60% |
7.2 – 0
60%-0 |
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