COMM 1107

FWS: Object Lessons: Communication and Materiality

Course Description

Course information provided by the 2025-2026 Catalog.

While we live in a world that produces material goods at an overwhelming rate, one thing that has not changed throughout history is the complexity of human relationship to the material world. In our increasingly consumerist and digitized culture we still assign value beyond the immediate function of objects, an act that plays a crucial role in constituting memory, identity, and in our understanding of the past, present, and future. In this course students will write about the ways objects communicate meaning, conduct research into the cultural, political, and economic contexts surrounding material artifacts, and across several essays and a group project explore the ways objects both small and large can impact the way we think about ourselves and our world.

Writing and Languages (FWS)

Last 3 terms offered (None)

Learning Outcomes REF-FA25

• To analyze written and visual texts with a focus on evidence-based interpretation.|To write academic essays with a clear thesis, complex argument, and logical structure.
• To compose writing that critically engages with the subject matter of the course and demonstrates correct use of style, grammar, and reference methods. |To incorporate independent research creatively and strategically into your own writing. |To practice preparatory writing strategies such as drafting, revising, and peer review, culminating in original essays or presentations.

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