בחסות תכנית "נופי ידע", הפקולטה למדעי הרוח ומוזיאון הכט
בשיתוף מרכז חיפה לחקר הים התיכון ותכנית אונאסיס ללימודי יוון

אוניברסיטת חיפה
2 באפריל 2019

 

19^th-century Photo-Archaeology

International Conference

Hosted by the Nofei Yeda (Landscapes of Knowledge) program, Faculty of Humanities and the Hecht Museum

In collaboration with:

The Haifa Center for Mediterranean History (HCMH) and Onassis Program of Hellenic Studies

University of Haifa

 

April 2, 2019

Call for Proposals

 

The 19^th century, an era of great archaeological discoveries, coincided with the invention of photography. Perceived from its very beginning as the "most truthful documentation," the camera immediately became an irreplaceable tool in unveiling the mysteries of past civilizations. It revealed the very existence of the historical and religious sites, at the same time bringing the Western beholder close to these sites physically, emotionally and mentally. 

Despite technical and physical challenges, early photographers left a significant body of works documenting ancient ruins and recently discovered archaeological sites throughout the Mediterranean and the Middle East, the cradle of European culture and Christianity. Some photographs were used in research, others were published in archaeological surveys and books, and sold as photograph albums. But others still remain unnoticed in the archives; many have not received the attention they deserve.

The aim of this upcoming conference is to examine Photo-Archaeology in terms of the historiography of the 19^th century while discussing the visual aspect of the field, applying the tools of photographic technology and fine art analysis. We further aim to discuss the role of photography and archaeology as indispensable tools in pursuit of the political and ideological goals of the imperial West.

We are pleased to announce that the key speaker will be world renowned Photographic Process historian Prof. Mark Osterman, George Eastman Museum, Rochester, NY.

Proposal submissions should address, but are not limited to, the following topics:

1. 19^th-century photographic trips through ancient cities and sites in the Mediterranean
2. 19^th-century photographic exploration of Greece
3. 19^th-century photographic exploration of the Holy Land
4. Photography of ancient ruins: perception and reception
5. Technical challenges facing 19^th-century photographers of archaeological sites
6. Exploration and documentation of the Middle East
7. 19^th-century photography of the archaeological sites: history, politics, ideology
8. People and places in the 19^th-century photography of the Middle East
9. Photographic archives
10. Photographs in 19^th-century books and surveys
11. Photography and the development of archaeological standardized visual documentation and classification methods (site plans, drawings, reconstructions)
12. Photography and lithography in archaeological context

We invite proposals for a 20-minute presentation. Please submit the title and a short abstract (max. 300 words); full name of each author with current affiliation and full contact details (address, email, phone number and title of presentation).

Submission Deadline is December 15, 2018. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance by early January.

Nofei Yeda is an innovative program of the Faculty of the Humanities at the University of Haifa, running since 2012. The program offers unique interdisciplinary classes that expose undergraduates to the richness of the Humanities as a field of inquiry and as a mode of thought.

The Hecht Museum located at the University of Haifa, founded in 1984 by the late Dr. Reuben Hecht, houses an extensive and important collection of Israeli archaeology artifacts relating to Jewish history in the Biblical and the Second Temple Period. The Hecht Museum sees great importance in, and encourages cooperation with, academia. This conference is set to coincide with a new exhibition on the topic currently being presented at the Museum.

For application and more information please Ms. Dalya Odem, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.