Florida Tech Textiles of Asia Course Open to the Community

MELBOURNE, FLA.—The Florida Institute of Technology Department of Humanities and Communication fall textiles class will be Textiles of Asia. The interdisciplinary course will examine the cultural context of clothing and textile production, trade and design along the historical Silk Road, from China to the Mediterranean. It begins Aug. 17 and meets Mondays and Wednesdays, from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m., through Dec. 2.

The historical range spans two millennia, and the settings include nomadic and rural societies, urban centers, courts and merchant groups.

There will be a strong emphasis on the impact of such issues as religious/symbolic beliefs, ideas of gender and power, and the transmission of design and technology. Instructor Carla Funk, director of the Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts, will offer many specific examples such as imperial robes, ceremonial dress, kimono, Indian sari, oriental carpets and nomadic weavings.

To register, contact the Department of Humanities and Communication at (321) 674-8082. Community members who are not Florida Tech students may audit the course for a special fee of $325. Registration information for the community is: Course #194946 HUMA 2085 111.

Senior Citizens are eligible to audit the course for free. Enrollment is limited. For senior citizen registration: Course #94533 HUMA 2085 E1A.