Living with Materials
DI204-30 Term 2 and 3 |
| Module Convenor |
| Optional Core module - second-years only |
| Term 2 (10 wks) and 3 (4 wks) |
30 CATS |
| 60 seminar hours and 60 independent study hours |
| All lectures and seminars will be face to face unless otherwise stated in Moodle |
| For session preparation and further info, visit the module Moodle spaceLink opens in a new window. |
| Please note this webpage refers to the module as planned for 2025-2026. For other versions, please refer to the module catalogue: Module information |
Materials are foundational to our very existence, in how we exist, perceive ourselves and others, our environments, our histories and our futures. This module explores approaches to materials through a transdisciplinary lens and an international perspective. It combines theoretical and practical approaches that call on both the sciences and the humanities to consider and interact with materials. Students will be able to pursue a diverse series of routes assessing the lives of materials through their qualities and transformations, and will learn from a range of people who work professionally with materials in their academic and professional careers.
Principal Aims
To understand the ethical, political, social, economic and cultural aspects of the material world. To develop methods for the creation of a personal taxonomy of the qualities of materials. To establish and hone methods of verbal, visual, material and textual communication in relation to ideas about, and qualities of materials. To evolve diverse methods of research that enable the effective analysis and understanding of materials (whether practical or theoretical). To appreciate the interconnectedness of diverse disciplinary approaches.
Principal Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Recognise, identify and record the scope and complexity of material worlds.
- Describe and critically assess the interplay of materials with ourselves, our physical, social and psychological worlds.
- Critically analyse and interrogate the complexity of material worlds through multidisciplinary methods.
- Demonstrate awareness of the ethical consideration of materials.
- Develop methods of textual, visual, material and verbal communication about materials.
- Develop effective and diverse research methods appropriate to both the theoretical and practical investigation of materials.
Syllabus
This 30 credit module is split into two halves with the first term concerning Materials and Us and the second Material Technologies. The first term will include: original myths, chains of being, the resource model, global resources, ecological perception and economies of matter, materiality vs. materials, flows and surfaces, subject and object, digital materialities and future myths. The second term will include: revisiting resources, theories of making, alchemical practices, transformations, new materials, old materials, future materials, rethinking subject and object, and a materials festival.
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
Living with Materials assessment (DI204-30)
Reassessment component
Please note: Module availability and staffing may change year on year depending on availability and other operational factors. The School for Cross-faculty Studies makes no guarantee that any modules will be offered in a particular year, or that they will necessarily be taught by the staff listed on this page.