our third assessment is a critical exercise in examining material culture of religion. Your task is to choose a religious, ritual, or sacred object and think about how that material object is used in a religious setting.

Choose a religious object that you would like to write your field report on.

• This can either be an object that you or your friends and family owns, or an object in a museum or gallery.
• Be as creative and inventive as you like – what do you think is a “religious object”?
• Examples include: a medieval Bible, a Chinese altar hanging, a Seder plate, Mala beads, a Suzu, a prayer rug, a statue or icon, or a Kirpan.

Some possible local resources include:

• The Royal Ontario Museum (online collection – https://collections.rom.on.ca/?_ga=2.116144262.123354445.1704327490-272444781.1704327490&_gac=1.214207333.1704327490.CjwKCAiAqNSsBhAvEiwAn_tmxb3k6_wOTM10fa1CY2-fupTV1DKF2lP7BtB0QSyURTg0YToNN2SLCBoCVYMQAvD_BwELinks to an external site.)
• Aga Khan Museum (online collection – https://agakhanmuseum.org/collectionLinks to an external site.)
• The Art Gallery of Ontario (online collection – https://ago.ca/collectionLinks to an external site.)
• Gardiner Museum (online collection – https://emuseum.gardinermuseum.com/collections?_ga=2.252870785.948713496.1704327969-1360020323.1704327968Links to an external site.)
• Textile Museum of Canada (online collection – https://collections.textilemuseum.ca/Links to an external site.)

Note: The ROM is free for post-secondary students on Tuesday with student ID. The AGO is free for visitors under 25 and free Wednesday Nights from 6-9pm (but you must reserve the tickets online in advance). The Aga Khan Museum is free Wednesday evenings from 4-8pm (but you must reserve the tickets online in advance). The Bata Shoe Museum is free on Sundays. The Gardiner Museum is free on Wednesdays after 4pm.

Step Two:

Write a brief statement (about 1-3 sentences, no more than 50 words) about what the object is. Think of this as a small museum label that identifies the basics of what the object is.

This statement should include:

• The name of the object
• The approximate date of when it was made (i.e. 20^th century, 15^th century, 1823, 2001)
• The material/medium the object is made of (i.e. wood, wool, metal, glass, etc.)
• Where the object comes from (i.e. Tibet, Nigeria, your local synagogue, your house, a gift from your grandparents)

If you have chosen an item from a museum or collection, please include a link, or an object number.

Step Three:

Attach one or two pictures of the item showing what the object looks like. Please include this in the document instead of attaching separately.

Step Four:

Analyse the object and draft a small essay (700 words) critically examining how the object is made and how its design has a meaning in a ritual or religious context. Think about the details of the object rather than the practice.

You are meant to reconstruct the ritual or religious context from the object – do not simply describe the ritual or religious use. Find the meaning and practice within the object.

Whenever you describe an element of the object, ask yourself “why is it like this?”

Questions to think about:

• How big is the object? Does it fit in your hand? How do you hold it? Who can hold it?
• Is it meant for personal use, or community use? Is it used in private or in public?
• What does it smell like? Does it make any sounds? How heavy is it? Do you need to move it or shake it?
• What is it made of? Is it cold or hot? Is it smooth or rough?
• What does it feel like? How do your fingers touch it? Is there a handle or grooves for the fingers?
• Where would you use it? Do you need light? Is it sharp? Is it dangerous? Is it for an adult or a child?

Step Five:

Having left a few days between your draft and the deadline, be sure to re-read and correct your essay before submitting.