22nd January 2008, 10:20 PM
Hi Paul,
The polarised debate in 'industrial archaeology' is as you say somewhat sad, one would hope by now that the theoretical and practical sides of the argument would have found some common ground to meet over. My own research into the functional aspects of industrial complexes were a way of understanding the people who worked in them and by extension their position and role within the society they lived within. The archaeology itself, the cogs and sprockets, were a means to an end not the end itself.
I do indeed remember the Transit Van project, as somebody who sat in that van many times, I took a keen interest in the project. for me the most interesting aspect of it wasn't the archaeology but the art work which it inspired. As to contemporary archaeology in the commercial world I think it will take an extremely farsighted curator to be willing to include that type of work in a brief and then be willing to fight for its retention. My hopes for such are not great.
I've PM'd you my mobile number, feel free to get in touch.
Oz
If you ever wondered how you get triangles from a cow, you need buttermilk and cheese and an equilateral chainsaw. Half Man Half Biscuit
The polarised debate in 'industrial archaeology' is as you say somewhat sad, one would hope by now that the theoretical and practical sides of the argument would have found some common ground to meet over. My own research into the functional aspects of industrial complexes were a way of understanding the people who worked in them and by extension their position and role within the society they lived within. The archaeology itself, the cogs and sprockets, were a means to an end not the end itself.
I do indeed remember the Transit Van project, as somebody who sat in that van many times, I took a keen interest in the project. for me the most interesting aspect of it wasn't the archaeology but the art work which it inspired. As to contemporary archaeology in the commercial world I think it will take an extremely farsighted curator to be willing to include that type of work in a brief and then be willing to fight for its retention. My hopes for such are not great.
I've PM'd you my mobile number, feel free to get in touch.
Oz
If you ever wondered how you get triangles from a cow, you need buttermilk and cheese and an equilateral chainsaw. Half Man Half Biscuit