Underpinned by an object-centred pedagogy, this assessment requires students to choose an object from a material collection of disciplinary relevance and produce (1) a report and (2) a research essay based on an extended analysis. In the initial report, students may be asked to describe their chosen object, detail any challenges they have encountered during their analysis, and detail further research possibilities. In the research essay, students develop the themes explored in their report, conduct secondary research related to their objects, and reach some significant conclusions regarding their object. Importantly, students must integrate the theoretical frameworks learnt throughout the course into both their report and research essay. Students may also be asked to include reflective elements in these tasks; such as a rationale of why they chose their particular object and what they have learnt through their analysis. The emphasis of this assessment is on a critical engagement with relevant material collections (Such as UQ Anthropology Museum, Queensland Art Gallery, or R.D Milns Antiquities Museum) and the integration of theory and practice in a major practical project. This assessment is coupled with workshop activities that teach students the practical and theoretical knowledge required to conduct their object analysisanalysis.
Details
- CLASS SIZE
- 10-20
- CLASS LEVEL
- Second year, Third year
- ASSESSMENT SECURITY
- Medium security
- TIME REQUIREMENTS
- Medium time
- TAGS
- object-centred learning, embodied learning, analysis
Advantages
This task fosters in students a sense of ownership or personalisation in regards to their object and their subsequent research. This produces an active, practical learning environment that promotes high levels of retention and engagement. Object-based inquiry is a unique and engaging way to facilitate critical thinking, and develop practical and analytical skills relevant to working with material collections. This assessment is well suited to courses interested in the ways objects produce knowledge and meanings different to written texts, or where learning objectives are to obtain a deeper insight into the relationships between people and things in inter-cultural contexts.
Challenges
Students may be unable to access objects outside of specific times (in the case of private collections, for example). This can be mitigated against by providing students with digital catalogues (where possible) and dedicating class time to completing the assessment.
Tips for implementation
It may be of value for staff to create a shortlist of objects for students to from, rather than an entire collection that can be extensive and overwhelming (e.g. UQ's Anthropology Museum has over 28,000 objects in its collection).
How it supports academic integrity
Although students may be able to access photographic depictions of their objects through online catalogues or databases, it is important to ensure that aspects of the assessment can only be completed by interacting with object in an embodied way, thus requiring students to be present at workshops and discouraging forms of misconduct such as outsourcing.
Associate Professor Diana Young
djbyoung@uq.edu.au
I am a social anthropologist and curator specialising in material, visual and digital cultures, and in re-inventing ethnographic museums for the 21st century. I have curated 18 exhibitions. I have a continuing research interest and publication track record in the anthropology of colours.
I have an undergraduate degree in Architecture, an MA in Anthropology of Art from University College London and a PhD in Social Anthropology from University College London where I was part of the Material Culture group in the Department of Anthropology. I won an ESRC Post Doctoral Fellowship and a Post Doctoral fellowship at ANU before becoming the Anthropology Museum Director at UQ. I am currently Director of the Museum Studies Masters Program at UQ.
My research interests include the anthropology of art, landscape and ecology, consumption, film and photography, historical anthropology, design anthropology, museum studies, and research through exhibition curation as public anthropology. I have expertise in researching Australian Indigenous and Pacific cultural production. I welcome students for higher degree research supervision in any of these subject areas.
My ARC Discovery (2013-2016) A desire for things concerns the relationship of money, art markets, consumption practices and art making among Indigenous artists working in central Australia.
I am the first woman to direct the UQ Anthropology museum. I created a new research infra structure for the museum that includes a dedicated 240m square gallery and a new global best practice collection store. I led the creation of a new online digital catalogue for the museum with innovative object imaging. More than 60,000 people visited the UQAM’s new teaching, research and engagement facilities. I promoted a successful acquisition policy of purchasing works by named women makers to assist in the rebalancing the gender equity of the collection, and raised more than AUS$1.1 million for the museum. I initiated a gallery program to show the museum's collection that included collaborative exhibitions derived from research in the museum’s collection. I am expert at successfully profiling academic research for public engagement. These projects aim for inclusivity and an inter-cultural understanding that promote ever widening networks which assist in the continuing process of decolonising the museum. Find out more