DHM 3033 Material Culture DHM 3033 Material Culture Chapter 1 Making Sense of Material Culture DHM 3033 Material Culture Chapter 1 Section 2 What is a theory? o A way of seeing o An optic that focuses on specific subject matter o Modes of explanation & interpretation that construct connections & illuminate sociocultural practices, thus helping to make sense of everyday life Berger, S. (2014). What objects mean: An Introduction to material culture. Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek, CA. What is a theory? o Greek theoria signifies perspective & vision that focuses upon specific topics, processes & attributes Berger, S. (2014). What objects mean: An Introduction to material culture. Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek, CA. What are some theories of material culture? • Freudian Psychoanalytic • Semiotic • Sociological • Marxist • Cultural • Archaeological Berger, S. (2014). What objects mean: An Introduction to material culture. Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek, CA. What are limits to theory? Roshomon 1951 film Akira Kurosawa Based on 2 short stories by Ryunosuke Akutugawa Set in 12th century Japan Berger, S. (2014). What objects mean: An Introduction to material culture. Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek, CA. What are limits to theory? Roshomon Problem 4 different people…give 4 very different versions… How do we know reality? Who is telling the truth? Berger, S. (2014). What objects mean: An Introduction to material culture. Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek, CA. What are limits to theory? “Roshomon Problem” “…scholars from different disciplines would disagree about how to interpret (Roshomon)…” Berger, S. (2014). What objects mean: An Introduction to material culture. Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek, CA. What are limits to theory? Roshomon Problem “What do we do when theorists from different disciplines disagree about how to interpret an artifact or object?” Berger, S. (2014). What objects mean: An Introduction to material culture. Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek, CA. What are limits to theory? Roshomon www.youtube.com/watch?v=38WdmtBO o34 Note: Some may find some material offensive. Berger, S. (2014). What objects mean: An Introduction to material culture. Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek, CA. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38WdmtBOo34 What are limits to theory? How would you interpret this artifact?  What is it?  Who used it?  Where was it created?  When?  Why? . Masks from Japan Who what where when why? Selections from the Permanent Collection from the Mingei International Museum San Diego, CA What are some theories of material culture? Sociological Theory:  Offers insights into role objects & artifacts play in our lives  Raises questions about how objects function for people  Raises questions about what motivates people to purchase objects  Cons ...

1. DHM 3033
Material
Culture
DHM 3033
Material
Culture
Chapter 1
Making Sense of
Material Culture
DHM 3033
Material
Culture
Chapter 1
Section 2

2. What is a theory?
o A way of seeing
o An optic that focuses on specific subject matter
o Modes of explanation & interpretation
that construct connections &
illuminate sociocultural practices,
thus helping to make sense of everyday life
Berger, S. (2014). What objects mean:
An Introduction to material culture.
Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek, CA.
What is a theory?
o Greek theoria
signifies perspective & vision
that focuses upon
specific topics,
processes & attributes
Berger, S. (2014). What objects mean:

3. An Introduction to material culture.
Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek, CA.
What are some
theories of material culture?
• Freudian Psychoanalytic
• Semiotic
• Sociological
• Marxist
• Cultural
• Archaeological
Berger, S. (2014). What objects mean:
An Introduction to material culture.
Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek, CA.
What are
limits to theory?
Roshomon

4. Ryunosuke Akutugawa
Berger, S. (2014). What objects mean:
An Introduction to material culture.
Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek, CA.
What are limits to
theory?
Roshomon Problem
4 very different versions…
Berger, S. (2014). What objects mean:
An Introduction to material culture.
Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek, CA.

5. What are limits to
theory?
“Roshomon Problem”
“…scholars from different
disciplines would disagree
about how to interpret
(Roshomon)…”
Berger, S. (2014). What objects mean:
An Introduction to material culture.
Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek, CA.
What are limits to
theory?
Roshomon Problem
“What do we do when
theorists from different
disciplines disagree
about how to interpret
an artifact or object?”

6. Berger, S. (2014). What objects mean:
An Introduction to material culture.
Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek, CA.
What are
limits to theory?
Roshomon
www.youtube.com/watch?v=38WdmtBO
o34
Note: Some may find some material
offensive.
Berger, S. (2014). What objects mean:
An Introduction to material culture.
Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek, CA.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38WdmtBOo34
What are limits to
theory?
How would you interpret this artifact?
d?

7. .
Masks from Japan
Who what where when why?
Selections from the
Permanent Collection
from the
Mingei
International Museum
San Diego, CA
What are some
theories of material culture?
Sociological Theory:
s into role objects & artifacts play
in our lives

8. function for people
to purchase objects
Berger, S. (2014). What objects mean:
An Introduction to material culture.
Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek, CA.
Masks
Who what where when why?
• Worn during dances, rites of
passage, festivals & celebration
• Serve as powerful symbols of
identity & power.
• Express complex beliefs
are often associated with the
deepest convictions & ideals of
a community.
www.mingei.org/exhibition/masks/

9. Masks
Who what where when why?
• Serve as powerful statements
about identity and perception
• Change wearer’s face- by
exaggerate or conceal features
• Express the “shadow personality”
found in each of us
• Making & wearing embraced by
many cultures
www.mingei.org/exhibition/masks/
Masks
• Diverse materials:

10. www.mingei.org/exhibition/masks/
Masks from Japan
Menpo Samurai
face mask from
the movie
The Last Samurai.
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=mask+scene+last+samari
+mo
vie&id=60BD65059010AF06FD45490C22AC43B82153F5AE&F
ORM=IQFRBA
#view=detail&id=60BD65059010AF06FD45490C22AC43B 8215
3F5AE&sele
ctedIndex=0
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Last_Samurai.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Last_Samurai.jpg
Masks from Japan
Material Culture objects, such as these Japanese masks,
may also be used
in other places
and by other people –

11. for example
as decorative furnishings
in a restaurant in Stillwater.
HSCI Faculty at Main Street Noodle, Stillwater, OK
SOWK 101
Community Paper Instructions
For this assignment, you will write a 3-page paper using current
APA format. Please use third person and formal academic
writing when describing your personal community.
Please describe the following:
Community: is the area rural, urban, suburban, international,
multicultural, under-resourced, wealthy, etc.? Describe your
community. Cite sources.
Social Service Agencies: Discuss the social service agencies in
your community and the populations they serve. These agencies
can be, but are not limited to the local department of health and
human services, mental health agencies, refugee resettlement
agencies, adult and child protective services, adoption agencies,
etc. Cite sources.
Non-Social Service Agencies that employ Social Workers:
Discuss the organizations that are not social service agencies
that employ social workers and the populations they serve.
These agencies can be, but are not limited to schools, hospitals,
veterans’ administration, Head Start, nursing homes, after
school programs, etc. Cite sources.

12. Personal Interest: Please discuss the social work positions that
may interest you personally. This answer can be in first person.
Submit this assignment by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of
Module/Week 4.
Running head: TITLE OF PAPER
1
2
Title of Paper
Your Name
Liberty University
Title of Paper

13. Indent, and write your introduction here.
Community Description
Indent, and describe your community here. Make sure to
thoroughly describe who lives in your community. What
racial/ethnic/religious groups are represented here? Is this
community economically diverse? Is this a wealthy or
impoverished community? What about city, suburban, or rural
characteristics? Citing statistics or other sources on your
community will be incredibly helpful here! You can find
statistics on your community at www.census.gov .
Social Service Agencies
As you have been learning in this course, social workers
often work at social service agencies, describe the social service
agencies in your community in depth. Include information such
as names of the organizations, the population they serve, the
services they offer to this population, and job responsibilities of
social workers at the agencies, etc. These agencies can be, but
are not limited to the local department of health and human
services, mental health agencies, refugee resettlement agencies,
adult and child protective services, adoption agencies, etc.
Non-Social Service Agencies Employing Social Workers
Describe the other agencies/organizations, which employ
social workers, in depth. Include information such as names of
the organizations, the population they serve, the services they
offer to this population, etc. These agencies can be, but are not
limited to schools, hospitals, veterans’ administration, Head
Start, nursing homes, after school programs, etc.
Conclusion
Indent and write your conclusion here. This section
describes any personal interest in social work specific areas. It
also contains a short summary of your paper.
References
References should be listed on a separate page at the end of
your paper. You can use your textbooks as your references.
APA format example:
Keith-Lucas, A. (1985). So you want to be a social worker: A

14. primer for the Christian student.
North American Association of Christians in Social Work.
Segal, E. A., Gerdes, K. E., & Steiner, S. (2016). An
introduction to the profession of social work: Becoming a
change agent. Cengage.
Yankoski, M. (2005). Under the overpass: A journey of faith on
the streets of America. Multnomah.
*********************EXTRA CREDIT (OPTIONAL)
ACTIVITY***********************
Dear Students,
Watch the Rashomon movie (black and white, with English
subtitles) and
write a one – two page paper for extra credit. The paper should
1. Summarize the plot
2. Identify the characters
3. Explain how you think this movie is relevant to
understanding theory in material
culture.
It may be helpful to you to review the “on the nature of theory”
section in Chapter 1 of your
textbook as you prepare to watch the movie and write your
paper. The movie is available on from
different sources such as “Offbeat Cinema”, ITunes and

15. AmazonPrime.
This is the movie discussed in your textbook. Please read the
appropriate sections in your
textbook before watching the movie. Please be aware, some may
be offended by the content of
the movie.
Your full name must be written at the top of your paper
submission.
No late submissions will be accepted for any reason. 5 points
will be added to your first test grade for
complete and thoughtful submissions.
Best Regards,
Paulette R. Hebert, Ph.D.
Professor