I gather, though perhaps I shouldn't assume, that Sarah's questions are
provocative rather than *genuine* requests for answers.
I enjoyed the line of questioning because it led me to this question:
If archaeology (which encompasses the public communication of archaeology)
is not about these very issues, then what *value* (in Levi-Straussean terms
of good to think) does it have in contemporary culture?
And then this:
Therefore, why aren't these themes more prominent in the interpretative
media that accrues around such *official* sites of the nation's heritage?
I should add that those questions, too, are provocative. I used to work for
Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments so *know* the answers.
Angela
A A Piccini
Postdoctoral Research Associate
PARIP Practice as Research in Performance
Department of Drama: Theatre, Film, Television
University of Bristol
Cantocks Close, Woodland Road
Bristol BS8 1UP
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PARIP is an AHRB-funded project set up to investigate scholarly and creative
issues raised by practice as research in the disciplinary fields of
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practitioner-researchers; is interrogating questions surrounding practice as
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23/5/02 8:03 pm
> Sarah Asked, heres my brief answers
>
> Dear All,
>
> (my machine tells me there are 544 of you, but I have my doubts)
>
> A set of stories from EH press clippings are interesting me. An MP from
> Cornwall
> is due to be married in Pendennis Castle (this is why the stories are in our
> press pack) She is against hunting and pro-hunt lobby activists have been
> targeting
> her with demonstrations whenever she arrives in Cornwall. She has felt
> nervous
> about this. They have promised to leave her alone on her wedding day - saying
> that they recognise this to be a private matter.
>
> A number of questions would seem relevant to this group.
> 1) Why is a castle a suitable or romantic place to be married?
>
> In Britain people have got married on submarines and football stadiums, so
> perhaps romance isn't all there is to this, but personal links to a place?
> Suitable - well what does that mean? You can get married in a church, but as a
> non - Christian I wouldn't want to and likewise more people are opting for
> civil ceremonies in nice (I assume the castle is aesthetically nice in some
> way, at least to those involved). As for romantic see below
>
> 2) If an MP is married in a castle - is it a private matter?
> Any marriage is I would say, the fact that it is a castle makes it no more
> public than any other place you can get married
>
>
> 3) Is a wedding ever a private matter? - ceremonies in perhistory are
> recognised
> to be prime times for advancing political agendas - why not now?
>
> Times and attitudes have changed. For more detail I suggest contacting
> historians as this issue is perhaps more about the history of marriage, not
> archaeology?
>
> 4) If this MP finds the castle a romantic and lovely place to be, why does she
> overlook an activity which was central to the culture that built it?
>
> Does this mean that all Roman students should be actively encouraged to
> view/participate in real gladiatorial combat? The reason is again, times and
> attitudes have changed. Just because somewhere/thing is associated with a
> particular values at a given time, does not mean that it has to stay that way
> for ever. Archaeology is a good example of this, how many of us value the
> knives or other items found for their utilitarian qualities, which would have
> been (partially, and with exceptions) how the people long ago would have
> valued them?
>
> 5) How did castles - symbols of military domination - become divorced from the
> violent context of their constructions in the minds of 21st century British
> people (or Cornish people)
>
> One obvious answer is the changing of that context (military domination was
> less relevant as the English identity( whatever that means) became to accept
> the conquerors as 'us'. Also the castles became obsolete for their military
> purpose and over time this aspect of their existence became less relevant, and
> also the Victorian idea of romance and mystery has a lot to answer for
>
> a not academically rigorous answer
>
> Nick Boldrini
> SMR Computing Officer
> Heritage Unit
> North Yorkshire County Council
> Direct Dial (01609) 532331
>
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> and does inspect E-Government mails sent
> from and to its computer system.
>
>
>
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