This seminar looks at both material culture theory and the practice of interpreting objects in the West and in Asia. It draws on the practices and questions of multiple disciplines including archaeology, anthropology, cultural geography, and art history. We will consider the variety of ways and contexts in which objects have been understood to ‘speak’ as aesthetic vehicles and as cultural texts. Taught by two faculty members who have extensive experience as museum curators–one of American Art, the other of Asian Art, this class will combine theory with hands-on learning. Students may enroll for 2 units (without final paper) or 4 (with final paper).