Session: #524

Theme & Session Format

Theme:
3. Heritage Narratives and Representations
Session format:
Regular session

Title & Content

Title:
New Narratives in Industrial Heritage: Exploring Alternative Approaches to the Industrial Past
Content:
Industry as a subject of archaeology and heritage studies has far-reaching connections beyond technological or socioeconomic considerations, extending to many facets of human and non-human life; these can include landscape impacts, language, culture, memory, and present-day use of space. Ruins have long enflamed romantic imaginations, spurring a variety of artistic approaches to historical and contemporary ruins. These artistic endeavours are sometimes regarded as “ruin porn”, accused of lacking in consideration for the ethical and societal impacts that led to a site’s ruinous state. In the contemporary post-industrial world, we live among abandoned and dilapidated industrial spaces, making the myriad encounters we have with the industrial past impossible to avoid. Nevertheless, authorized discourse surrounding industrial heritage and industrial archaeology remains rather stagnant and bound to the traditions of the late 20th century, signalling a potential need for novel forms of engagement to help further the field.

In this session, we search for new ways to interpret and contextualize industrial heritage. This session welcomes alternative or artistic approaches to the study of the industrial past that may fall outside of the traditional definitions of industrial heritage and industrial archaeology. This can include, but is not limited to, papers on unauthorized engagements with the past, official and unofficial industrial heritage sites, studies of abandonment and abandoned industrial estates, ethnographies of industry, considerations of industrinatur, and human and non-human entanglements. Posters, art exhibitions, films or other formats are welcome; we ask that applicants indicate the format or medium of their choice when submitting an abstract.
Keywords:
industry, heritage, art, ruins, industrial heritage, industrial archaeology
Session associated with MERC:
no
Session associated with CIfA:
no
Session associated with SAfA:
no
Session associated with CAA:
no
Session associated with DGUF:
no
Session associated with other:

Organisers

Main organiser:
Alexa Spiwak (Norway) 1
Co-organisers:
Tiina Äikäs (Finland) 2
Affiliations:
1. University of Oslo
2. University of Oulu