School of Information
Management & Systems
Previously School of Library &
Information Studies
Infosys 142 Access to American
Cultural Heritages. Fall 2003.
3 credits.
CCN#42702. MW 2:00-3:30. 202 South Hall.
Instructor:
Michael Buckland. 203A
South Hall. (510) 642 3159.
Office hours: Mon 4-5; after each class; & by appt.
Tutor: Vivien Petras.
Do museums have attitudes? Are libraries neutral? Who owns the excavated bones?
Who is trying to shape your sense of identity? We are surrounded by publicly
presented information about who we are, how we should regard ourselves, and how
we should regard others. There are large vested interests in people's sense of
cultural, ethnic, and national identity. Infosys 142 is an informal introduction
to issues in the preservation, representation and use of tangible forms of
cultural heritage, especially in the U.S.A. Overview.
Why
take this course? What
is meant by "access"?
So what is cultural heritage?
Some topics.
The Schedule
lists assignments and handouts. Readings
Cultural Heritage Resources on the Internet
- An Introductory Guide. Binder of course materials on Moffitt Informal Reserve.
Assignments: 1. "Me
and 142". 2.
Photography and Black Heritage. 3.
Ethnic groups. 4.
Finding "Culture". 5.
Pathfinder library catalog. 6.
Museum collections. 7.
Subject access. 8.
Searching library. 9.
Visit another exhibit. 10.
Social aspects of naming.
11.
Interview.
12. American?
Portfolio.
Past
portfolio topics. Bibliographic
style. Cultural
property. Subject
access. Past
exam questions.
Course description: 3 units. An introduction to issues in the
preservation, description, and use of tangible forms of cultural heritage.
Documentation, ownership, and control of access to cultural heritage resources
in the U.S.A. Cultural groups, cultural identity, cultural policies, and
cultural institutions (libraries, media, museums, school, historic sites, etc.).
Satisfies the American Cultures Requirement and also the Letters & i
Science Social & Behavioral Sciences Breadth Requirement.
Topics to be
covered:Introduction. Intentions. Culture. Cultural heritage. Bibliographic
access. Information systems are culturally based. Historical museums. Art
museums. Monuments and historic sites. Education, censorship, languages,
cultural heritages, and cultural identity. Archives, libraries, and manuscript
collections. Cultural and historical organizations. Social construction of
heritage. Social memory. Tradition. Cultural policies. Cultural property. Law
and culture. Alienation. Public funding for cultural heritages. Economics of
cultural heritage: Tourism. Collecting. Development. Authenticity and
interpretation. Conflicts and multiculturalism. Historiography. Cultural frame
of the historian. Interpretation of distant cultures.
Readings: Mostly
short weekly readings to become familiar with concepts, terminology and issues.
e.g. "Culture", "Heritage interpretation", etc. Other according to student's
theme.
Assignments:. Visit and review a cultural exhibit. Interview
someone with cultural heritage responsibilities. Weekly exercises and
investigative assignments throughout to: Develop expertise in using libraries
and online information systems; Acquire familiarity with relevant specialized
sources; Understand the character of knowledge- and culture-transmitting
institutions / systems.
Personal theme and portfolio: Each student
will pick a theme within the scope of the course, some combination of topic and
cultural group. Through the exercises, assignments, and other investigations,
each student will build up a portfolio on that topic: explanation, commentary,
and, especially, a guide to sources. Brief written and oral progress reports. Past
topics.
Expectations: Three in-class closed-book exams intended,
with limited choice of questions. Other expectations. Attendance and
participation. Well-written work. Up to 6 hours work a week outside class.
Individual consultation.
Grading: One third: Assignments; One third:
Exams; and one third: Portfolio. Attendance, participation, and small exercises
are expected to be satisfactory, with unusual performance used to raise or lower
final grade. No Final.
Requirements Satisfies American Cultures and
the L&S Social & behavioral sciences breadth requirements.