Chinese things in Europe 1600 to 1900: A global history in objects
Porcelain and maps, books, clocks and clothes, Mao posters and gramophones: objects unperturbedly travel the world, change hands (through theft, as diplomatic gifts, or in trade) as well as their cultural meaning in different contexts and times, and create unexpected connections. In recent years, the study of objects as an alternative to written documentation has gathered momentum and created the interdisciplinary field of material culture in the broadest sense: the disciplines of anthropology, art history, and archeology investigate objects as part of social practice. In the field of global history, the study of objects (artefacts as well as things of daily use) provides us with a visualization of trade routes and flows of goods. Often, these objects, in travelling, change their cultural meanings and attributes, and appear in the setting of the destination with a new meaning; objects, too, have social lives, as Arjun Appadurai reminds us.
In this class, we will study the diverse theories on material culture in China and Europe. We will also investigate the making of certain things in China during the Ming and Qing, destined for every-day life in China, but also for the trade with Europe (books, silk, porcelain, art, tea, opium, furs), and reconstruct their journey (as commodities, gifts, or looted goods) from China to Europe or other parts of the world. We will read Chinese and English language materials, will watch films and visit museums.