The BLC core course seeks graduate students who actively

interrogate the material and geographical world around

us. Participants will critically examine methods of studying
the everyday built environment, which includes ordinary
buildings, cultural landscapes, and material objects. Students
will analyze and compare a wide array of theories and
methodological approaches from the last four decades
including the work of scholars from Art History, Geography,
Landscape History, Environmental History, Urban Studies,
Literature, Historical Archaeology, Material Culture, and
Folklore. Discussions encourage students to explore the
intellectual boundaries of these overlapping academic
disciplines while also cultivating their own identities in their
chosen felds of study. The course is open to all students and
may particularly interest those in Urban Planning, History,
Geography, Landscape Architecture, and Design Studies.
Fieldwork Component: The materiality of our evidence is not
abstract in this class, but rather the basis for our projects. In
Spring 2014, students will conduct feldwork in and out of class
in Westmorland, a mid-century suburban development on
Madisons west side, whose diverse housing stock has much
to say about suburban history, national architectural trends,
and local fashion and customs. On-the-ground investigations
will include making measured drawings of foorplans and
elevations, neighborhood mapping, GIS production and
analysis, and photographic methods of documentation, as well
as recording and considering texts like letters and newspapers,
historic sound and foodscapes, interior furnishings, oral
histories, and interviews. Final projects will contribute to the
BLCs on-going online documentation projects. Requires travel
in and around Madison. Distance learning options may be
available if agreed upon in advance. Visit www.blc.wisc.edu.
blc
Buildings-Landscapes-Cultures
Buildings-Landscapes-
Cultures is an interdisciplinary
research area concentrating
on the examination of the
physical, cultural, and
social aspects of the built
environment. The Program
serves students enrolled in
the Architecture PhD at the
University of Wisconsin
Milwaukee and the Art History
PhD at the University of
WisconsinMadison.
A RT H I S T O RY 8 6 7 | S P R I N G 2 0 1 4
METHODS IN
B U I L D I N G S
LANDSCAPES
C U L T U R E S
SEMI NAR I N AMERI CAN ARCHI TECTURE
Professor Anna Andrzejewski
Department of Art History
Co-director of
Buildings-Landscapes-Cultures
avandrzejews@wisc.edu
Thursdays 46pm
Elvehjem Building Room L144