2015 will see the 70th anniversary of Johan Huizinga%E2%80%99s death and the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Huizinga Institute. In order to mark these anniversaries, the Department of History of the University of Groningen will organize its annual international Summer School %E2%80%98Things that Matter%E2%80%99 in close cooperation with the Huizinga Institute. The opening event of the Summer School will be dedicated to Huizinga%E2%80%99s legacy in the contemporary academic world. Accordingly, the Summer School will encourage participants to enter into a %E2%80%98dialogue%E2%80%99 with Huizinga%E2%80%99s thoughts by embarking on a close reading of his work and by considering how his ideas have resonated with new developments in the field. We are particularly interested in the relationship between Material Culture and Cultural History. What forms of insight result from the study of objects/things/artefacts as source materials? How are the field's terminology and concepts distinguished? Do established historical phenomena develop new significance when viewed via %E2%80%98things%E2%80%99? Can 'things' be regarded as sources for understanding modes of thought and cultural habits that yield information that is not attainable via textual or iconic sources? Which kinds of information do objects immediately convey and how can we decode them? How are objects and identity related? How does the haptic quality of %E2%80%98things%E2%80%99 add to their meaning? We discuss the role of objects in Public History. How does society approach the legacy of %E2%80%98things%E2%80%99 in museums and heritage institutions? Which objects are %E2%80%9Cworth keeping%E2%80%9D? Who determines the selection process and what are selection criteria for curators, archivists and other agents in the sector?

Course leader
Prof. Dr. Mineke Bosch, University of Groningen

Target group
The Summer School is aimed at: A. Students from the RUG Master History Today (elective methods seminar) and other RUG Master students, 21-26 June (optional: Day School 30 April) B. Erasmus Master students C. Master students from outside Groningen and Master and PhD students from abroad D. PhD and (Re)Master students from the Netherlands via Huizinga Institute (Huizinga participants) E. The Summer School also offers a program tailored for BA students from Groningen in their pre-master phase.

Credits info
5 ECTS In order to receive 5 ECTS students will have to: 1. Actively participate in all components of the Summer School (except the preparatory sessions and the Day School in April, which are optional). All participants demonstrate that they have digested and analysed the reading for each component of the Summer School. 2. Write a 2500 word essay in which they: a. Give a critical account of the One-Day Symposium of 22 June 2015 b. Assess the presentation of Huizinga's legacy and its changes over time: for this component students have to refer to the Johan Huizinga conference of 1972 in Groningen at the occasion of the centenary of Huizinga's birth, and compare the themes, then and now. (This essay is based on their observations on the Day and a critical reading of the conference papers assembled in W.R.H. Koop, E.H. Kossmann and Gees van der Plaat, ed. Johan Huizinga, 1872 1972. Papers delivered at the Johan Huizinga Conference, Groningen, 11-15 december 1972. Den Haag: Martinus Nijhoff, 1973) 3. Write an object presentation for the session with Sara Pennell on Wednesday in which they explain their choice of object for the intended object biography (500 words, to be submitted one week prior to the start of the Summer School); write the biography of the object of their choice including the legacy of the object and its potential use in heritage and educational institutions (1500 words which can partly overlap with the object presentation). 4. Write a SWOT analysis of the Summer School in which they reflect critically on their learning experience (500 words).



Fee info
EUR 250: Full summer school starting on Sunday, June 20th with a city tour and welcome drinks: Category A and B costs are covered by the University Category C - 250 (housing excluded) Category D costs are covered by the Huizinga Institute Category E costs are covered by the University The Pre-Summer School Workshop and the Wednesday and Tuesday of the TTM2 Program can be attended as separate Day Schools (lunch, coffee and tea included): 20, PhD and other students 10 (per day) for all attendants outside RUG and HI. The Symposium on Huizinga's Legacy is free EUR 0: Costs are covered for Students from the RUG Master History Today, Erasmus Master students, Huizinga participants and BA students from Groningen in their pre-master phase.

Scholarships
Costs are covered for Students from the RUG Master History Today, Erasmus Master students, Huizinga participants and BA students from Groningen in their pre-master phase.

University of Groningen
Address: Broerstraat 5 Groningen
Postal code: 9721 CP
City: Groningen
Country: Netherlands
Website: http://rug.nl/summerschools
E-mail: summerschools@rug.nl
Phone: 0031 6 28216256