Critical Technologies: the Making of the Modern World
Call for session proposals
Organisers:
Dr Alice Gorman (Flinders University; [log in to unmask])
Dr Beth O’Leary (New Mexico State University; [log in to unmask])
Mr Wayne Cocroft (English Heritage; [log in to unmask])
Please direct all correspondence to Alice Gorman in the first instance.
Abstract
Everyday life in modern industrial nations has been shaped by technologies that
have radically altered the nature of travel (cars, trains, aeroplanes,
submarines, spacecraft), communication (telephones, television, telegraphs,
radio, computers and satellites), and warfare (rockets, missiles, aeroplanes,
nuclear weapons), among others. These technologies have recreated human
geographies through their capacity to transcend distance and time, allowing the
traffic of information and material culture across vast spaces, sometimes almost
instantaneously. They are the foundation of the globalising world, and yet the
material culture of globalisation is rarely examined critically from an
archaeological perspective. Given WAC’s aim to redress global inequities, it
is timely to focus an archaeological gaze on the technologies that support the
gap between the “haves” and “have-nots” of the 21st century.
Sessions are invited to examine the sites, places and artefacts created by
critical technologies, including but not limited to such topics as:
• The Cold War and nuclear confrontation
• Telecommunications
• Aerospace
• Outer space
• Robotics
• Technological landscapes
• Heritage management and conservation challenges
• Defence and warfare
• Indigenous engagement with critical technologies
• Theoretical issues in contemporary archaeology
• Capitalism and critical technologies
• The archaeology of the future
Critical technologies are not confined to the 20th century and after; we also
encourage papers and session proposals that investigate 17th -19th century
antecedents of modern technologies, and their impacts.
DEADLINE for session proposals is 1 November 2007
Sessions must be have organisers representing at least two different countries.
Session abstracts should be no longer than 250 words, and can be submitted online at http://www.ucd.ie/wac-6/. Please also send details to Alice Gorman at [log in to unmask] Feel free to discuss your proposed session before submitting.
_______________________________________________
Dr Alice Gorman
Department of Archaeology
Flinders University
GPO Box 2100 Adelaide 5001
[log in to unmask]
Office: +61 8 8201 5307
Mobile: +61 428 450 418
http://ehlt.flinders.edu.au/archaeology/staff/gorman.php
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