Courses
Welcome to Max’s course section. Here you can choose from a variety of exciting courses that cover different aspects of the interconnections between anthropology, art, and museums. All the courses available here expose you to the latest developments and critical discussions in these inter-related fields. Usually collected under the umbrella term World Arts, the issues covered by these courses intersect areas as diverse as the study of collecting, the place of non-western arts in the contemporary world, the ethics of representation, non-Western aesthetics, Indigenous peoples’ visual and material expressions, and the interface between traditional and modern arts. Many connections can be drawn between all these areas, and there is no limit to innovative reinterpretations. The value provided by these courses lies in stimulating intellectual curiosity, and critical thinking. They encourage analysis, description and evaluation while challenging deeply-rooted misconceptions and obsolete parameters of judgement.
My mission
With these courses my objective is to make anthropology more approachable to the wider public in all its facets, highlighting the professional and practical applications of a highly regarded discipline. You will be mentored through your course to find the best way you can make use of what you learn. I aim to encourage my students to observe the world from a different perspective, challenging common preconceptions, and embracing various vantage points that can help them reframe old questions in a new light.
What I Offer
As part of a non-accredited programme, I offer courses that will hopefully encourage you to deepen your appreciation of the discipline through an exploration of your areas of interest, and beyond. Whether you want to refresh your knowledge, use these courses as part of a professional development scheme, or take them as an exciting new step towards a university degree, I trust that you will find in the offer what you are looking for.
Who You Are
The courses are open to anyone who has an interest in Anthropology, and World Arts, their theories, perspectives, insights, and methods of investigation. Given the breadth of the offer, each course covers many topics that may be of interest to a wide number of professionals, undergraduate, and postgraduate students alike. Curiosity, engagement, and an open mind are the key elements that will give you a positive advantage in these courses, as we seamlessly move from theory to practice, from analysis to criticism.
Gonzalo Hernandez Carrillo, (Huichol, Mexico), 2018 ‘The Spiritual Path to
Shamanic Knowledge’ (© Max Carocci)
Installation at the Madhya Pradesh Tribal Museum, Bhopal (India) (© Max Carocci)
Study Days
Study days are tailored to expand certain aspects, topics, or components of the programme. They usually run over one day, from the morning through mid-afternoon with an average of three breaks. The workshop-style sessions include various activities and different modes of interaction. These courses are generally very visually oriented, so slide shows give structure to the deployment of the narrative. Like longer courses, Study days also include reading lists and topical advice to anyone interesting in developing further their area of interest.
Entrance hall, Madhya Pradesh Tribal Museum, Bhopal (India) (© Max Carocci)
Martin Puryear, ‘Liberty/Libertà’ American Pavilion, Venice Biennale 2019 (© Max Carocci)
Courses
Each course is taught remotely via Zoom. Each two-hour session is structured along a PowerPoint presentation during which you will be asked to actively participate in the discussion, ask questions, and contribute with your comments. Lectures may include clips, occasional virtual visits to museum collections, and course-specific exercises will be encouraged to enliven the learning experience, and to offer a stimulating complement to readings and class conversations. Occasionally, you may be asked to join separate group discussions in order to explore more in-depth specific topics or questions. Each course provides a relevant bibliography and, where possible, suggested websites or networks that may be relevant to the topic covered. There is no maximum limit to the course attendants, but the minimum number to start a course is 5 students.