Material Culture of Serbia

Pre-requisites: For attendance no prior preconditions are required.

Course objectives: The subject has two main objectives: (1) introducing students to the previous research of traditional material culture in Serbia, and (2) to encourage new approaches in the study of contemporary processes and phenomena in connection with material culture.

Course description: The course deals with the conquest of knowledge in traditional and contemporary material culture in Serbia. Traditional inventory of material culture will be processed within the following modules: rural and urban settlements, rural and urban architecture, food and identity, rural and urban fixed costumes. The aforementioned forms of material culture will be observed in the contemporary processes such as transformation, reinterpretation, disappearance, revitalization, preservation and protection.Classroom activity: (a) major bibliographical discussion and film recordings of the traditional inventory, (b) visits to museums with professional guidance, and (c) presentation of student papers (mini-projects) on contemporary changes in material culture.

Learning Outcomes: Students should acquire a detailed knowledge of the traditional inventory of material culture needed for a scientist of an ethno-museology orientation. He / she should adopt the professional values that are focused on the need to preserve cultural heritage