Garritt (Chip) Van Dyk (Newcastle), The Secret Life of Ephemera: Everyday Archaeology and Cultural History.
Friday 20 September, 2024
The word ephemera comes from the combination of the Greek words epi (around) and hemera (a day) to produce ephēmeros, ‘lasting only a day’. Originally this referred to a plant or insect, like a mayfly, that only lives for one day. It is used to describe items, often printed on paper, that are not meant to be kept and are often discarded after their intended use (such as tickets, advertising flyers, postcards and theatre programs). While there is frequently an emphasis on paper-based objects, there are other forms of ephemera which are made from other more durable materials, but still qualify in the category as the original intent was that the item was disposable, or at least not meant to last.
In the transient and mundane nature of these objects, images, and texts we gain unique insights into the social practices embedded in everyday life. Ephemera provide a complementary, and alternative, context to curated collections, archival documents and published texts, filling in the gaps in our knowledge of the customs and culture of ordinary people through unremarkable items that were incorporated into their daily routines.
This talk will explore the challenges and rewards of working with ephemera, providing examples of various types, and looking at some specific materials as a case study to illustrate the unique perspective offered by this often-overlooked primary source.
Dr Garritt (Chip) Van Dyk is a cultural historian at the University of Newcastle. His research looks at the intersection of food, plants, culture, economics, and imperialism. Every Thursday he talks about food history on ABC Breakfast Radio, Perth.
Unless otherwise noted, seminar content © the presenter. Recording © The University of Newcastle. All rights reserved.
www.newcastle....
This and other presentation recordings are available from our RU-vid channel, History@Newcastle / @historynewcastle2792
2 окт 2024
