In Boing Boing today – found photos from the Arkansas State Prison 1915-1937 – [Link] I liked the caption: In 1975, documentary artist Bruce Jackson found a bunch of old prison photos in a drawer in the Arkansas penitentiary. The people being photographed have no interest in the photographs being made; the people making…
Author: Michael Shanks
Derrida’s archaeology
I never got to finish my comment on Derrida who died in October. [BBC Link] The obituaries were largely stifled by misunderstanding, outrage, horror and incredulity – have a look at the Guradian’s lamentable list – [Link] Mark Taylor was better in the NYT – [Link] Flying back to the US today I see that…
framing the everyday
At the National Gallery in London with my sister and nephew. I always try to make a visit when I pass through the UK. Today I made a beeline for the Hoogstraten peepshow. My fascination with realism, perspective, the camera, optical instrumentality and everyday interiors continues. The peepshow is a box with a painted interior…
media archaeology and cultural remix – a London experience
Lower Marsh, La Barca Restaurant with Alan Campbell Media stars all over the walls – agents’ photos. A curious genre. David Suchet – Hercule Poirot Black and white, mannerist, smiley faces. They say “we had dinner here and gave the restaurant our photo”. But also these photos make me think of claims like “Henry VIII…
Glasgow TAG conference – Layla Renshaw – a highlight
Glasgow TAG A highlight of the conference, for me, was Layla Renshaw talking about photographs of the excavation of remains of victims of the Spanish civil war. The context is that of the growing application of forensic archaeology to investigate mass graves in Bosnia, Iraq, Argentine, Spain. To identify. To pursue justice. To achieve some…
sham archaeological science in the academy
Glasgow TAG conference – the cows come home to Monte Polizzo. A few years ago now I left I field project in Sicily after just two seasons. I was very angry because I felt I had been forced out by people who didn’t want to listen to my concerns. Angry at my wasted effort, because…
You must be logged in to post a comment.