H-Net network on Material Culture and Vernacular Landscapes and Artifact Preservation.

H-Material-Culture

The H-Net Network on Material Culture and Vernacular Landscapes and Artifact Preservation will promote and support the study of objects, buildings, sites, structures, landscapes and other material cultural productions as part of the visual record of life.

We welcome announcements, CFP's, queries, contributions, and discussions of all things material! To add yours, scroll down and click "Create New Discussion Post" on the right side of this page. 

And we tweet, too! https://twitter.com/H_Mat_Culture

smileyYou can see Recent Queries and Recent Discussions below, and Recent Announcements at the bottom of the page. All CFP's posted to the site can be found in the link on the right.smiley

Recent Queries

QUERY: Atlantic World merchant vessel technology--anecdotal evidence

Phillip Reid's picture
Submitted by Phillip Reid on Thursday, April 10, 2014

Hello--I am beginning a dissertation project with the working title "Merchant Ship Technology and the Development of the British Atlantic, 1600-1800."  Among other types of sources, I'm looking for anecdotal archival or published primary source material in which those engaged in the shipping business in this world--ship owners, masters, ship builders, state officials, merchants, and mariners--mention or discuss vessel technology in their correspondence, journals, logs, and other written documents.  I'm interested in their opinions, judgments, specifications, and instructions regarding design, rig, construction, lading, and equipment.  The goal is to evaluate continuity and change in the technology over the period.

QUERY: Seeking an expert on Graduation trappings and traditions

Rebecca Blood's picture
Submitted by Rebecca Blood on Monday, March 31, 2014

Hi,

I wondered if anyone here is or knows an expert on Graduation trappings and traditions? If so, I'd love to talk to you.

Kind regards,

Rebecca Blood

QUERY: work on industrial design in socialist Yugoslavia

Veronica Aplenc's picture
Submitted by Veronica Aplenc on Thursday, March 27, 2014

Dear H-MATERIAL CULTURE,

I am working on a project on the intersection of industrial design and folk arts in socialist-era Slovenia. I am aware of works that address the folk arts in former Yugoslavia and Eastern Europe; the political foundations of modern design in the former Yugoslavia; and style and socialism in the broader region. Local journals of the period include very interesting articles on state-sponsored cottage industries, which flourished in Slovenia from the early 1950s forward.

I am curious whether anyone can point me to work on such cottage industries in the region, and on other intersections of state-sponsored corporations or similar entities with folk traditions and arts.

Recent Discussions

The soapbox in the picture

Patrick Cox, H-NET VP and Editor's picture
Submitted by Patrick Cox, H-NET VP and Edit... on Thursday, April 3, 2014
The Soapbox

A few words on the image at the start of The Soapbox (and pictured below) because I cannot ask materialists to not talk a little about an object when presented with one. Unfortunately, though, I have very little to say about this one; maybe someone else will have something to add.

MCSA--Patrick Cox

Patrick Cox, H-NET VP and Editor's picture
Submitted by Patrick Cox, H-NET VP and Edit... on Wednesday, April 2, 2014
The Soapbox

I’m going to share an obscure bit of data, and then make a giant leap from it to my conclusion that MCS needs an MCSA.

MCSA--Nicole Belolan

Nicole Belolan's picture
Submitted by Nicole Belolan on Wednesday, April 2, 2014
The Soapbox

On a Hypothetical Material Culture Studies Association
By Nicole Belolan

MCSA--Andrea Truitt

Andrea Truitt's picture
Submitted by Andrea Truitt on Wednesday, April 2, 2014
The Soapbox

​Let me start with a disclosure: I did my M.A. in Art History at the University of Wisconsin and am now a Ph.D. candidate in the Art History department at the University of Minnesota. Furthermore, my experiences, in terms of my research interests and the scholars with whom I have worked and currently work, are based in American material culture. Individuals in other disciplines and at other institutions may have wildly different experiences.

Recent Announcements

Symposium: Fifty Years after Panofsky's 'Tomb Sculpture': New Approaches, New Perspectives, New Material

Patrick Cox, H-NET VP and Editor's picture
Submitted by Patrick Cox, H-NET VP and Edit... on Wednesday, April 23, 2014

From H-Announce: 

Fifty Years after Panofsky's Tomb Sculpture: New Approaches, New Perspectives, New Material

 

Conference to mark the 50th anniversary of the publication of Erwin Panofsky's 'Tomb Sculpture'. Papers will showcase the developments in research techniques and approaches that have led to new insights into funerary art.

Keynote speakers: Professor Susie Nash, The Courtauld Institute of Art, and Dr Phillip Lindley, the University of Leicester.

Symposium: Alexander von Humboldt and the Order of Nature: Aspects of Culture and Landscape in the Americas

Patrick Cox, H-NET VP and Editor's picture
Submitted by Patrick Cox, H-NET VP and Edit... on Wednesday, April 23, 2014

From H-Announce:

The symposium "Alexander von Humboldt and the Order of Nature: Aspects of Culture and Landscape in the Americas" is organized by Americas Society in partnership with Hunter College.

It will be in conjunction with Americas Society’s upcoming exhibition "Unity of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt and the Americas", co-curated by Georgia de Havenon and Alicia Lubowski-Jahn, that is on view from April 29 to July 26, 2014.

Last Call for Articles: Spring 2014 ALHFAM Bulletin

Martha Katz-Hyman's picture
Submitted by Martha Katz-Hyman on Sunday, April 20, 2014

The theme for the Spring 2014 Bulletin is “Up and Coming: Trends in
Museums and Historic Sites.”

Share your concerns, questions, experiences, tips of the trade and musings on working in museums, historic sites, parks and living history. What will future jobs and work look like?  How does one make connections and find gainful employment?  What makes a good internship? How do you learn new skills, and what skills should you learn? How do you “keep it fresh” and keep up with the times? Contribute your thoughts and resources to this open forum for seasoned and emerging professionals alike.  What trends with visitors are affecting and changing your work?

Articles are due no later than May 8, 2014.

H-Announce: Collections in Flux: the Dynamic Spaces and Temporality of Collecting, 1600-1830

Patrick Cox, H-NET VP and Editor's picture
Submitted by Patrick Cox, H-NET VP and Edit... on Wednesday, April 16, 2014

 Title: Collections in Flux: the Dynamic Spaces and Temporality of Collecting, 1600-1830
 Location: California
 Date: 2014-05-09
 Description: A conference at the William Andrews Clark Memorial
      Library organized by Mary Terrall (UCLA) and Adriana Craciun
      (UC Riverside) This conference will explore diverse
      methodological approaches for conceiving of collecting,
      collections, and collectors: the study of material culture,
      indigenous studies,  ...

Full announcement on H-Announce: http://www.h-net.org/announce/show.cgi?ID=212981

The Soapbox is here!

Patrick Cox, H-NET VP and Editor's picture
Submitted by Patrick Cox, H-NET VP and Edit... on Thursday, April 3, 2014

Despite a computer break down and the consequent need to tap everything out on the slippery surface of a tablet more often used by a six-year-old Angry Birds fanatic with sticky fingers, The Soapbox has been propped up in the town square of H-Material Culture. Three brave souls have stood upon it and pontificated on the pros and cons establishing an association for Materical Culture Studies. Check it out and add your two bits here: https://networks.h-net.org/node/7842/pages/20214/soapbox

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