Social Lives of Places and Things

6 February 2006

Anth 3520

 

 

 

Announcement: Writing Centre Courses

Reading for Today was: Rathje 3-78:  Yes, Wonderful Things; Garbage and History; What We Say, What We Do

Homework for today was: 2%.  Write a 400 word reflection -- and come to class ready to discuss it, and hand it in. The task: Consider the Dant book and the first part of the Rathje book together. Discuss any aspect of this comparison. (e.g. their methods of studying objects/human behaviour, or the insights they produce)

 

Major term assignment handed out last week, with additional details this week. See here. Extended office hours: Friday Feb 10th, 11-3,  and Tues 14, 11-3, Vari 2029.

 

Reading for next class, Feb 20 (after Reading Week): Rathje 81-109, 133-140, 171-212: Into the Unknown; A Garbage Census? The Technological Fix (optional); Closing the Loop.   NB it's quite likely that there will be a quiz that day in class, on those readings.

 

 

 

Lecture notes

 

1) Discussion: How do the Dant and Rathje books connect?

2) Garbage...

- in archaeology (e.g. midden photos): http://www.heritage.nf.ca/avalon/tour/plantation1_midden.html

http://www.mos.org/bigdigarch/specisl/specisl04.html

http://www.chippewanaturecenter.com/Oxbow/midden.htm

http://www.stronsay.co.uk/archaeology/1999/days/day14.htm

 

- cultural attitudes towards garbage

- historical practices concerning garbage

 

Examples: Chris Jordan's photography: http://www.chrisjordan.com/

 

Fresh Kills landfill: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/fkl/fkl2.shtml

closed in 2001... 9/11 http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101020909/landfill/

 

 

3) NonWestern garbage practices: the Zebbaleen of Cairo as an example of "ragpickers" or grassroots recyclers

http://www.caj.ca/mediamag/awards2004/cajAwards/theAwards/10_conflict/

Radio documentary: The Garbage People of Cairo http://www.cbc.ca/dispatches/programhighlights.html