Griffith University School of Arts 2045ART Culture and Lifestyles Field paper – interpreting cultural objects Due: Friday, May 23 Length: 2000-2500 words Weighting: 40% You have a choice in this assessment item: choose to analyse either a consumption space of your selection, or an item of material culture of your selection. Consumption space task summary: This practical requires students to describe, analyse and provide theoretical commentary for a consumption space that you select. A ‘consumption space’ includes any material setting or site where consumption occurs, and includes things like: a shopping mall, a foodcourt, a park, a snooker hall, a sporting event, a club or bar, coffee shop, casino, book store. The options are vast and are not limited to these. You are asked to visit the site and spend time observing what goes on in the space – the layout, the semiotic cues, the types of people and their activities, flows of people, lighting and other environmental factors. The practical requires that you write a report, which includes a description and theoretical analysis of what you observe. The best responses will provide a theoretical discussion which picks up on course concepts and themes to complement their ‘field’ analysis. OR Material culture task summary: This practical requires you to select and analyse an item of material (consumer) culture. For this assignment, material culture refers to those objects or things that we consume, which have a sensual quality. It includes things like shirts and shoes, music, furniture, cars and bikes, technology, food and drink. You are asked to take one item and provide an analysis of it – for example, what is the history of the product, how is it similar or different to related products, what are its important semiotic elements, what cultural purpose does it serve, what promises does it make to consumers, why is it popular (or not), how are different consumers likely to interpret and use it? The practical requires you to write a report, which includes a description and theoretical analysis of the object. The best responses will provide a theoretical discussion which picks up on course concepts and themes to complement their ‘field’ analysis. ‘08 ‘08 MARKING CRITERIA Field paper – interpreting cultural objects Your response will be assessed according to the following criteria and given a mark. 1. Analysis. To what extent has the student been able to:  Succinctly describe the space or object and analyse its key functional and symbolic components?  Briefly explain the historical and social context of the space or object?  Provide an analysis of the space or object in terms of the consumers and ‘social types’ it attracts (who is likely to visit/use it, other similar spaces, and likely uses)? 40 2. Critical and creative thinking. To what extent has the student been able to:  Creatively employ sociological ideas or concepts to analyse the space or object and highlight - demonstrating some originality and flair – significant sociological and cultural issues related to the organisation and/or use of the space or object?  Demonstrate a capacity to combine observation and description of the space/object’s characteristics, with cultural concepts and theories 40 3. Communication skills. To what extent has the student:  Written with fluency and clarity to clearly convey meaning;  Presented work that is free of grammatical and spelling errors;  Developed a logical and transparent framework for the essay that assists the reader in understanding their work (e.g. has an introduction and conclusion with an argument that is clear and soundly developed);  Referenced their sources appropriately and consistently (e.g. Harvard system of referencing). 20 General comments: