This past June, Cambridge University Press published The Handbook of Material Culture Studies, edited by Professors Lu Ann De Cunzo (Anthropology) and Catharine Dann Rober (Winterthur Program in American Material Culture), with contributions by additional University of Delaware faculty. This interdisciplinary book is sure to be a valuable resource for scholars of material culture. For more information, see the Cambridge University Press website and its description of the book below.
Material culture studies is an interdisciplinary field that examines the relationships between people and their things: the production, history, preservation, and interpretation of objects. It draws on theory and practice from disciplines in the social sciences and humanities, such as anthropology, archaeology, history, and museum studies. Written by leading international scholars, this Handbook provides a comprehensive view of developments, methodologies and theories. It is divided into five broad themes, embracing both classic and emerging areas of research in the field. Chapters outline transformative moments in material culture scholarship, and present research from around the world, focusing on multiple material and digital media that show the scope and breadth of this exciting field. Written in an easy-to-read style, it is essential reading for students, researchers and professionals with an interest in material culture.