IAP 2014 Activities by Sponsor - History

Christopher Leighton, Assistant Professor, History

Jan/30

Thu

06:00PM-08:00PM

E51-095

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/27
Prereq: None

The dream of a democratic China excites its champions and frightens its critics, but for some it already exists. When the eight-year old students at Wuhan’s Evergreen Primary School were allowed to elect their class monitor, a camera crew captured the experiment. The documented result was democracy in its most raw form, complete with character assassination, bribes, and demagoguery.

What can we learn about the promise or peril of democracy in contemporary China from this case? How have China’s values (whether traditional ethics or Maoist morals), social polices (e.g. the one child policy), or burgeoning economy of consumer capitalism shaped its prospects? To what extent are the problems we see universal, and to what extent do they seem particular and Chinese?

Participants will watch a documentary film, share a meal of Chinese food, and discuss these questions. No prerequisites; all welcome.

Sponsor(s): History
Contact: Christopher Leighton, E51-288, 617 324-0541, CLEIGHT@MIT.EDU

Anne McCants

Jan/29

Wed

12:00PM-06:00PM

Burton Connor

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/20
Limited to 20 participants
Prereq: Stomach and sense of humor

Interested in gnawing on greasy lamb shanks? Perhaps you prefer vetches, oats and spelt-cakes? How about fermented fish sauce? Come join us for an afternoon of good old--and we mean REALLY old--fashioned ancient & medieval cookery. We will prepare, cook, and eat medieval foods from both sides of the Mediterranean Sea. Preparations will involve the use of authentic period recipe-books. You are invited to join us for this afternoon of fun and feasting. For those with more academic interests we will have sources available for your reading pleasure--or horror. If you plan to arrive later than the start time, please indicate this when registering.

Sponsor(s): History
Contact: Anne McCants, E51-291, x8-6669, amccants@mit.edu

Margo Collett, Anne McCants

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/10
Limited to 15 participants
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions

This course explores an aspect of medieval textile and clothing production technologies, offering students hands on experience. We will work with a raw fleece; card and spin the wool; make skeins of yarn which can be used for weaving or knitting. Sitting wheels, large walking wheels and all materials will be provided. This course will question typical characterization of medieval textile work as unskilled, as well as consider distinctions usually made between activities labeled as crafts versus those labeled as art.

Sponsor(s): History
Contact: Anne E. C. McCants, E51-291, 2586669, amccants@mit.edu

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Distaff Arts

Jan/21	Tue	10:00AM-04:00PM	E51-095
Jan/22	Wed	10:00AM-04:00PM	E51-095
Jan/23	Thu	10:00AM-04:00PM	E51-095