Convocation ‘24: Emma Carr, MA Material Culture Studies, Human Ecology

Emma Carr, MA Material Culture Studies, Human Ecology

“I am so thankful I was given the opportunity to excel in something I was passionate about.”

Learn About the Program

When Emma Carr first read about the material culture program in the Department of Human Ecology, she was both unaware of the terminology and also the field of study, but once she read the description of the program on the website, something resonated with her. 

“It felt like someone had designed a field of study specifically for me,” she says. “I had always loved museums and felt a deep connection to objects and fashion, but never thought that could be a career choice for me let alone that such a program existed in Western Canada.”

Once in the master’s program, Emma rose to the challenge, she says, noting the collaborative work she did on the exhibit [De]Coded: Deciphering the Dialetics of Dress with her peers and with her supervisor, Anne Bisssonette, as the highlight of her academic career.
 
As she plans her next steps, Emma is preparing a research article based on her thesis topic that considered Victorian mourning jewelry and its role in the social perception of death and mourning.

Congratulations Emma!

What led you to choose your current area of study, and why the U of A for your studies?

I moved to Edmonton after completing my undergraduate degree at the University of Victoria. Unsure about what my next career step was going to be, I took a few interior design classes at the University of Alberta Extension [now Continuing Education] school where I stumbled upon the Department of Human Ecology. While I had never heard of human ecology or material culture before, reading the descriptions on the faculty website felt like someone had designed a field of study specifically for me. I had always loved museums and felt a deep connection to objects and fashion, but never thought that could be a career choice for me let alone that such a program existed in Western Canada.

Having access to and getting to work with the expansive Anne Lambert Clothing and Textiles Collection was a phenomenal part of my education and key to being able to complete my degree.

What is one of your favourite memories from your time at the U of A?

One of my favourite memories was being a co-curator on the [De]Coded: Deciphering the Dialetics of Dress exhibit with Anne Bissonnette, Josée Chartrand and Qi Wang, which explored the coded messages communicated in the clothing we wear. Since most of my degree was completed during COVID, I didn't have a chance to do much in-person work, but being able to be on campus and work collaboratively with peers and mentors taught me invaluable information that I would not have been able to learn remotely.

Tell us about your favourite professor and/or class.

My favourite class was HECOL 360 (Dress and Culture) with Professor Bissonnette, who would later be my supervisor. Her class was my introduction to exploring the relationship between clothing and culture and trained me in the art of research and reading an article. I learned so much from this class that I will carry with me into this next stage in life.

Did you take on any leadership roles while you were a student? If so, please share your experiences.

I was the Clothing, Textiles, and Material Culture representative for the Human Ecology Graduate Students’ Association (HEGSA), which involved organizing events like writing workshops and trivia nights for the graduate students.

Did you face any significant obstacles or challenges during your program, and if so, how did you respond?

The most significant obstacle I faced throughout my program was getting into the program to start with. My GPA from my undergraduate degree was not high enough to be accepted without a professor vouching for me. Professor Bissonnette took a chance on me and I received conditional acceptance into the MA program. I am proud to say that I rose to the challenge and completed my course work with straight As and passed my thesis defense with no revisions. 

While I enjoyed my time as an undergraduate student, I never felt as passionately about excelling in my classes until starting the MA program and I am so thankful I was given the opportunity to excel in something I was passionate about.

What advice do you have for current and future students?

Be brave and don't be afraid of failure, it just means that you tried! There will be hard times throughout your career as a student, and what will set you apart is your ability to persevere, learn from the setbacks and come back even stronger.

How do you plan on celebrating convocation?

Going out for dinner with family and friends.

What's next after graduation?

Enjoying some time off and preparing a research article based on my thesis.