+- BAJR Federation Archaeology (http://www.bajrfed.co.uk)
+-- Forum: BAJR Federation Forums (http://www.bajrfed.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?fid=3)
+--- Forum: The Site Hut (http://www.bajrfed.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?fid=7)
+--- Thread: Mike Pitts on the Plinth (/showthread.php?tid=1709)
Mike Pitts on the Plinth - BAJR Host - 29th July 2009
http://www.oneandother.co.uk/participants/Mike_P_1
interesting
Constant development is the law of life, and a man who always tries to maintain his dogmas in order to appear consistent drives himself into a false position.
Mohandas Gandhi
Mike Pitts on the Plinth - RedEarth - 29th July 2009
Quote:quote:Originally posted by BAJR Host
http://www.oneandother.co.uk/participants/Mike_P_1
interesting
<hr>Constant development is the law of life, and a man who always tries to maintain his dogmas in order to appear consistent drives himself into a false position.
Mohandas Gandhi
Really? Shouldn't that have had a question mark after it? I can't think of anything more dull and self-important if I try.
Mike Pitts on the Plinth - Misty - 29th July 2009
What a wasted opportunity! But as an example of Archaeology failing to engage with a wider audience it was very good.
Mike Pitts on the Plinth - achingknees - 29th July 2009
Not sure if Redearth refers to the concept or Mike Pitt's contribution. However, I would disagree regardless. I caught snippets of it this morning (had it streaming but working at the same time). I thought his piece was of interest. His delivery was simple and without self-importance.
I saw the first four artefacts come out of the suitcase. I would like to think that I would have made similar choices.
1 The UK's oldest evidence of Homo, a stone tool (we have a history in this land - it is longer than we thought)
2 A handaxe from Boxgrove (functional, aesthetic, symbolic?)
3 A worked flint from Doggerland (we were physically, geographically European. We were hunter-gatherers for a vast amount of time. A reminder of climate change?)
4 An arrowhead from Carn Brea (the 'civilising' influence of agriculture - it's MY land, the start of warfare, the stricture of religion, alcohol)
Mike Pitts on the Plinth - RedEarth - 29th July 2009
The concept really, rather than any one contribution. But then I haven't actually watched more than a snippet of it and much of my information is second hand. Someone described it as something like Big Brother crossed with Speakers' Corner, which was immediately enough to put me off. Just not sure I see the point.
Mike Pitts on the Plinth - achingknees - 29th July 2009
Quote:quote:Originally posted by Misty
What a wasted opportunity! But as an example of Archaeology failing to engage with a wider audience it was very good.
What a cynical comment! Of all the gigs in the Festival of National Archaeology (or whatever it's called) I thought that was a must see. Not the best of time slots though. There are other ways of engaging with the public other than digging some holes in village back gardens or draping a dog blanket around you, painting your face all celtic like and pretending to be some Iron Age warrior.
Mike Pitts on the Plinth - BAJR Host - 29th July 2009
It was indeed interesting for several reasons, though the time was er.. unfortunate.. though I suspect you don't get to pick and choose. It was a quiet and thoughtful piece, though in terms of engagement with the wider public? I just don't know. we are after all tainted by being archaeologists and naturally cynical.
It did make me watch, but I will confess I did fast forward quite a bit. I actually think the night helped the performance.. and the white gloves and perspex boxes did lend an artistic element.
What did it say to me?? not sure... but then I feel I must watch it again fully.. and then decide.
anyway, whats wrong with painting your face blue and draping a dog blanket over yourself!
worked for me!
Constant development is the law of life, and a man who always tries to maintain his dogmas in order to appear consistent drives himself into a false position.
Mohandas Gandhi
Mike Pitts on the Plinth - Misty - 29th July 2009
I agree that digging holes in gardens and wearing blankets is not going to bring in anyone who is not already interested. I just thought that being on the plinth was an opportunity to bring in people who are not already interested in the past, through archaeology or history, and this was lost by bad presentation. Most people will watch the live-streaming or playback and I think would lost interest after the first 15 minutes when very little happened.
Mike Pitts on the Plinth - BAJR Host - 29th July 2009
There was a bit of rudeness at 43.30 minutes.. the trouble of being up there at 1am .. I felt for him.
Though I did understand what the story was - a very English story if I may say..though it did have a seabed core from between Orkney and Norway (but then I would - no Scara Brae or Broch for the plinth sadly) - and the concept of placing 700,000 years of humans onto the plinth was good, it kind of lost the way a bit. The comment about archaeologists being hit by the recession, seemed a bit of an add on and playing for time... help get me off here. But I would challenge anyone to go up there for an hour. Remember BAJR did ask for volunteers
There were a lot worse.. and a lot better... at the end of the day... it was an interesting exchange... that perhaps says it all... MP"Its your history" drunk "f##k off you f##kin# blah... etc" Do we engage the public? or do we appear as people on a plinth telling them they should revere a past that they can't see or touch...let alone understand ? hmmm... interesting
<hr>Constant development is the law of life, and a man who always tries to maintain his dogmas in order to appear consistent drives himself into a false position.
Mohandas Gandhi
Mike Pitts on the Plinth - diggingthedirt - 29th July 2009
That's fantastic! And completely bonkers! It's only when you put archaeology on a pedestal, and subject it to the gaze of public scrutiny, that the lines between obsessive compulsive disorder and genuinely useful science stop being blurred.
I really like the woman just before too. 'Oh, I didn't remember coming up?, she said as she climbed back into the lift. That's micro-dots for you!
Good effort Mike! Right. Who's batting next?
http://www.diggingthedirt.com