Name Change Proposal: Recommended Alternative Names
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Name Change Proposal: Recommended Alternative Names
by caroledignard on Tue May 29, 2012 3:54 pm
Members comments are hereby most welcome concerning the following 3 recommended, possible alternative Names:
As was suggested at the Lisbon Conference Business Meeting in Sept. 2011, the Name Committee studied promising Name options, based in part on the results of the First Consultation. The Committee focused its study on the intent, implications and ramifications of various Names, using the recently posted Name Criteria and the WG’s Aims and Vision as guides. After extensive study and deliberations over several months, the Name Committee recommends to the WG membership the following 3 Name options as viable alternatives to replace the WG’s current Name:
-WG on Objects from Indigenous and World Cultures
-WG on Indigenous and Local Material Culture
-WG on Indigenous and Traditional Material Culture.
Each of these is, to varying degrees, consistent with the Criteria and the WG’s Aims and Vision. The 3 share a common feature: the term ‘indigenous’(*) is contained in all, as a means of acknowledging the important past, current and future role that the various Indigenous Peoples and their tangible and intangible heritage have in the development and activities of our Working Group. As well, as discussed in the Name Criteria, the explicit reference to ‘indigenous’ cultures/objects is a means of recognizing indigenous voices and dignity, in conformity with the ICOM Code of Ethics and UN charters.
(*)DESCRIPTION of the term ‘Indigenous’: Because ‘indigenous’ can have several meanings, it was important to clarify this term. The 2007 UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples provides an authoritative source on terminology and provides context for its usage.
(http://www.hreoc.gov.au/social_justice/ ... embly.html)
As well the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/doc ... sheet1.pdf) further describes the term as follows: ‘Who are Indigenous Peoples? It is estimated that there are more than 370 million indigenous people spread across 70 countries worldwide. Practicing unique traditions, they retain social, cultural, economic and political characteristics that are distinct from those of the dominant societies in which they live. Spread across the world from the Arctic to the South Pacific, they are the descendants - according to a common definition - of those who inhabited a country or a geographical region at the time when people of different cultures or ethnic origins arrived.’
(Source: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/doc ... sheet1.pdf)
Nevertheless the 3 Names vary in important ways, namely by the choice of terms used to describe the type and scope of the collections that fall within the realm of our WG. The three names are described below:
Alternative #1: WG on Objects from Indigenous and World Cultures
Description/justification of why this Name would fit our WG:
This Name, WG ON OBJECTS FROM INDIGENOUS AND WORLD CULTURES, which integrates the two main themes (‘indigenous’ and ‘world cultures’) that gathered the most support in the First Membership Consultation, fits our WG for several reasons. Firstly, it includes in a prominent way the term ‘indigenous’ (’cultures’), for the reasons discussed above. Secondly, this Name includes the term “world cultures”, which recognizes the concept of all cultures sharing one world with equal respect. This term and its associated concept have been adopted in recent years by new and established organizations and international activities which explicitly focus on cultural diversity in the museum and cultural fields; some of these museums and activities were formerly called ‘ethnographic’ (1). “World Cultures” also evokes the WG’s culturally-focused conservation approach for objects valued or researched expressly because they are culturally representative. The Name is inclusive and open, and preserves the WG’s original broad scope by including objects from all cultures, as reflected by the United Nations in the term “cultural diversity” (2). By combining “Indigenous” and “World Cultures”, the Name reflects the spirit and intent of the ICOM Cultural Diversity Charter (3) and UNESCO 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (2), which advocates equal respect of, and protection for, diverse cultural expressions (including cultural objects) originating from all cultures, both traditional and contemporary, including those of Indigenous Peoples, in the interests of world peace and security. This Name also reflects UN usage in respect of a distinct Indigenous identity. This name extends beyond categories to include tangible cultural expressions by all cultural groups who identify themselves as distinct, regardless whether they take their identities primarily from association with the land or a locality, or from certan belief sytems, customs or traditions, or from other factors. All groups and individuals can consider themselves included among “World Cultures. It supports a vision and future for the WG in step with the world’s mobile populations, with social change, and with cultural studies in today’s museums. The word ‘Objects” is appropriate within the context of this Name for the reasons described in a previous posting on this matter.
REFERENCES
(1) Examples: RIME, the European project ‘Ethnography Museums and World Cultures’ started in 2008 and involves 10 of Europe’s major ethnographic museums rethinking the place and role of ethnography museums (http://www.rimenet.eu/index.php?id=3 ); the former Museum of Ethnology at Frankfurt am Main is now called the Museum of World Cultures ; the restructured Museum of World Culture opened in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 2004 and includes the Swedish national ethnographic collections; the peer-reviewed academic journal World Cultures , founded in 1985, focuses on cross-cultural studies.
(2) See Definition, 'Cultural Diversity' in Article 4 of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions 2005, http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ ... N=201.html .
(3) ICOM Cultural Diversity Charter: http://icom.museum/who-we-are/the-gover ... -2010.html[/size]
---------------------------------
Alternative #2: WG on Indigenous and Local Material Culture
Description/justification of why this Name would fit our WG:
This Name, WG ON INDIGENOUS AND LOCAL MATERIAL CULTURE, which derives from a name proposal that gathered much support in the First Membership Consultation (WG on Indigenous and Local Cultural Materials), fits our WG for the following reasons. Firstly, it gives prominence to “indigenous” material culture, which describes a large part of the objects this WG focuses on, and is respectful of UN charters that the ICOM Code of Ethics supports. The addition of the term ‘Local’ broadens the scope to refer to other cultural groups closely identified by a locality, for example by natural or rural environments, as used by international organizations (1). ‘Local’ means a particular, limited-size place, geographically unique in terms of land, fauna, flora, and specific communities associated with it; the intention is to imply that the material culture’s specific place of origin is a critical, defining characteristic. The term ‘local’ would include cultural groups producing traditional and folk objects, and it is sufficiently open and flexible to allow the inclusion of all cultures and of various kinds of groups who identify themselves, at least in part, in relation to their locality. The term ‘indigenous’ is kept distinct from the term ‘local’ in recognition of the distinct nature of indigenous cultures, as recommended in the Criteria. Using the terms ‘indigenous and local’ also allows for groups of people to refer to themselves more specifically, in myriad of other ways. “Material Culture” is appropriate within the context of this Name as per the reasons described in a previous posting on this matter.
REFERENCES:
(1) The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) refers to ‘indigenous and local communities’ when describing the originators of such cultural items as traditional and folklore handicrafts:
‘Traditional cultural expressions (TCEs) (or, "expressions of folklore") include music, art, designs, names, signs and symbols, performances, architectural forms, handicrafts and narratives. (...) TCEs are integral to the cultural and social identities of indigenous and local communities, they embody know-how and skills, and they transmit core values and beliefs.’ See ww.wipo.int/freepublications/en/tk/913/wipo_pub_913.pdf.
The Convention on Biological Diversity also uses the term 'indigenous and local communities' with reference to:
‘(…) communities that have a long association with, and depend on, the lands and waters that they have traditionally live on or used. Sometimes such communities are also referred to as “traditional communities”. Because of this long association and reliance upon local resources, local communities have accumulated knowledge, innovations and practices regarding the useful environmental knowledge. (…) 5. Many communities may be considered local and may also be described as traditional communities. Some local communities may include peoples of indigenous descent. They are culturally diverse and occur on all inhabited continents.' See: http://www.cbd.int/doc/?meeting=4753
UNESCO also refers to this expression in the context of Local and Indigenous Knowledge: see 'Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems (LINKS)' website (http://portal.unesco.org/science/en/ev. ... N=201.html).[/size]
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Alternative #3: WG on Indigenous and Traditional Material Culture
Description/justification of why this Name would fit our WG:
The Name WG ON INDIGENOUS AND TRADITIONAL MATERIAL CULTURE recognizes and gives prominence to indigenous cultures, while the addition of the term “traditional” broadens the scope to traditional objects, which include folk/ folklore objects, and can qualify all objects or creations that are based to some degree on cultural traditions, and reflect a culture’s, or a community’s, identity, as per the WIPO definition (1). The Name is inclusive of the traditional material culture from all cultures, since all cultures have a traditional or folk component to them. The term focuses on material culture linked to community traditions. The term ‘traditional’ also includes new, modern, living creations: “While lying at the heart of a community’s identity, cultural heritage is also ‘living’ – it is constantly recreated as traditional artists and practitioners bring fresh perspectives to their work. Tradition is not only about imitation and reproduction; it is also about innovation and creation within the traditional framework. Therefore, traditional creativity is marked by a dynamic interplay between collective and individual creativity.’(2) The Name is clear and simple to understand. It follows internationally-recognized terminology and is neutral and respectful of all. “Material Culture” is appropriate within the context of this Name as per the reasons described on page 6.
REFERENCES:
(1) See ‘Intellectual Property and Traditional Cultural Expressions/Folklore’, p. 2. on WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) website: http://www.wipo.int/freepublications/en ... ub_913.pdf:
(…) ‘Traditional cultural expressions’/ ‘expressions of folklore’ means productions consisting of characteristic elements of the traditional artistic heritage developed and maintained by a community of [name of country] or by individuals reflecting the traditional artistic expectations of such a community, in particular:
– verbal expressions (…); – musical expressions (…); – expressions by actions (…); and,
– tangible expressions, such as: productions of folk art, in particular, drawings, paintings, carvings, sculptures, pottery, terracotta, mosaic, woodwork, metalware, jewelry, basket weaving, needlework, textiles, carpets, costumes; crafts; musical instruments; architectural forms.
‘Expressions of’ traditional culture (or ‘expressions of’ folklore) may be either intangible, tangible or, most usually, combinations of the two – an example of such a ‘mixed expression of folklore’ would be a woven rug (a tangible expression) that expresses elements of a traditional story (an intangible expression).'
Note: WIPO also states that it uses the terms ‘traditional cultural expressions’ (TCEs) and ‘expressions of folklore’ interchangeably, but that it recognizes that: 'Although ‘expressions of folklore’ has been the term used most commonly in international discussions and is found in many national laws, some communities have expressed reservations about negative connotations of the word ‘folklore.’'
(2) Cited from above under section: ‘What are “traditional cultural expressions” (TCEs)?'[/size]
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As was suggested at the Lisbon Conference Business Meeting in Sept. 2011, the Name Committee studied promising Name options, based in part on the results of the First Consultation. The Committee focused its study on the intent, implications and ramifications of various Names, using the recently posted Name Criteria and the WG’s Aims and Vision as guides. After extensive study and deliberations over several months, the Name Committee recommends to the WG membership the following 3 Name options as viable alternatives to replace the WG’s current Name:
-WG on Objects from Indigenous and World Cultures
-WG on Indigenous and Local Material Culture
-WG on Indigenous and Traditional Material Culture.
Each of these is, to varying degrees, consistent with the Criteria and the WG’s Aims and Vision. The 3 share a common feature: the term ‘indigenous’(*) is contained in all, as a means of acknowledging the important past, current and future role that the various Indigenous Peoples and their tangible and intangible heritage have in the development and activities of our Working Group. As well, as discussed in the Name Criteria, the explicit reference to ‘indigenous’ cultures/objects is a means of recognizing indigenous voices and dignity, in conformity with the ICOM Code of Ethics and UN charters.
(*)DESCRIPTION of the term ‘Indigenous’: Because ‘indigenous’ can have several meanings, it was important to clarify this term. The 2007 UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples provides an authoritative source on terminology and provides context for its usage.
(http://www.hreoc.gov.au/social_justice/ ... embly.html)
As well the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/doc ... sheet1.pdf) further describes the term as follows: ‘Who are Indigenous Peoples? It is estimated that there are more than 370 million indigenous people spread across 70 countries worldwide. Practicing unique traditions, they retain social, cultural, economic and political characteristics that are distinct from those of the dominant societies in which they live. Spread across the world from the Arctic to the South Pacific, they are the descendants - according to a common definition - of those who inhabited a country or a geographical region at the time when people of different cultures or ethnic origins arrived.’
(Source: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/doc ... sheet1.pdf)
Nevertheless the 3 Names vary in important ways, namely by the choice of terms used to describe the type and scope of the collections that fall within the realm of our WG. The three names are described below:
Alternative #1: WG on Objects from Indigenous and World Cultures
Description/justification of why this Name would fit our WG:
This Name, WG ON OBJECTS FROM INDIGENOUS AND WORLD CULTURES, which integrates the two main themes (‘indigenous’ and ‘world cultures’) that gathered the most support in the First Membership Consultation, fits our WG for several reasons. Firstly, it includes in a prominent way the term ‘indigenous’ (’cultures’), for the reasons discussed above. Secondly, this Name includes the term “world cultures”, which recognizes the concept of all cultures sharing one world with equal respect. This term and its associated concept have been adopted in recent years by new and established organizations and international activities which explicitly focus on cultural diversity in the museum and cultural fields; some of these museums and activities were formerly called ‘ethnographic’ (1). “World Cultures” also evokes the WG’s culturally-focused conservation approach for objects valued or researched expressly because they are culturally representative. The Name is inclusive and open, and preserves the WG’s original broad scope by including objects from all cultures, as reflected by the United Nations in the term “cultural diversity” (2). By combining “Indigenous” and “World Cultures”, the Name reflects the spirit and intent of the ICOM Cultural Diversity Charter (3) and UNESCO 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (2), which advocates equal respect of, and protection for, diverse cultural expressions (including cultural objects) originating from all cultures, both traditional and contemporary, including those of Indigenous Peoples, in the interests of world peace and security. This Name also reflects UN usage in respect of a distinct Indigenous identity. This name extends beyond categories to include tangible cultural expressions by all cultural groups who identify themselves as distinct, regardless whether they take their identities primarily from association with the land or a locality, or from certan belief sytems, customs or traditions, or from other factors. All groups and individuals can consider themselves included among “World Cultures. It supports a vision and future for the WG in step with the world’s mobile populations, with social change, and with cultural studies in today’s museums. The word ‘Objects” is appropriate within the context of this Name for the reasons described in a previous posting on this matter.
REFERENCES
(1) Examples: RIME, the European project ‘Ethnography Museums and World Cultures’ started in 2008 and involves 10 of Europe’s major ethnographic museums rethinking the place and role of ethnography museums (http://www.rimenet.eu/index.php?id=3 ); the former Museum of Ethnology at Frankfurt am Main is now called the Museum of World Cultures ; the restructured Museum of World Culture opened in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 2004 and includes the Swedish national ethnographic collections; the peer-reviewed academic journal World Cultures , founded in 1985, focuses on cross-cultural studies.
(2) See Definition, 'Cultural Diversity' in Article 4 of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions 2005, http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ ... N=201.html .
(3) ICOM Cultural Diversity Charter: http://icom.museum/who-we-are/the-gover ... -2010.html[/size]
---------------------------------
Alternative #2: WG on Indigenous and Local Material Culture
Description/justification of why this Name would fit our WG:
This Name, WG ON INDIGENOUS AND LOCAL MATERIAL CULTURE, which derives from a name proposal that gathered much support in the First Membership Consultation (WG on Indigenous and Local Cultural Materials), fits our WG for the following reasons. Firstly, it gives prominence to “indigenous” material culture, which describes a large part of the objects this WG focuses on, and is respectful of UN charters that the ICOM Code of Ethics supports. The addition of the term ‘Local’ broadens the scope to refer to other cultural groups closely identified by a locality, for example by natural or rural environments, as used by international organizations (1). ‘Local’ means a particular, limited-size place, geographically unique in terms of land, fauna, flora, and specific communities associated with it; the intention is to imply that the material culture’s specific place of origin is a critical, defining characteristic. The term ‘local’ would include cultural groups producing traditional and folk objects, and it is sufficiently open and flexible to allow the inclusion of all cultures and of various kinds of groups who identify themselves, at least in part, in relation to their locality. The term ‘indigenous’ is kept distinct from the term ‘local’ in recognition of the distinct nature of indigenous cultures, as recommended in the Criteria. Using the terms ‘indigenous and local’ also allows for groups of people to refer to themselves more specifically, in myriad of other ways. “Material Culture” is appropriate within the context of this Name as per the reasons described in a previous posting on this matter.
REFERENCES:
(1) The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) refers to ‘indigenous and local communities’ when describing the originators of such cultural items as traditional and folklore handicrafts:
‘Traditional cultural expressions (TCEs) (or, "expressions of folklore") include music, art, designs, names, signs and symbols, performances, architectural forms, handicrafts and narratives. (...) TCEs are integral to the cultural and social identities of indigenous and local communities, they embody know-how and skills, and they transmit core values and beliefs.’ See ww.wipo.int/freepublications/en/tk/913/wipo_pub_913.pdf.
The Convention on Biological Diversity also uses the term 'indigenous and local communities' with reference to:
‘(…) communities that have a long association with, and depend on, the lands and waters that they have traditionally live on or used. Sometimes such communities are also referred to as “traditional communities”. Because of this long association and reliance upon local resources, local communities have accumulated knowledge, innovations and practices regarding the useful environmental knowledge. (…) 5. Many communities may be considered local and may also be described as traditional communities. Some local communities may include peoples of indigenous descent. They are culturally diverse and occur on all inhabited continents.' See: http://www.cbd.int/doc/?meeting=4753
UNESCO also refers to this expression in the context of Local and Indigenous Knowledge: see 'Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems (LINKS)' website (http://portal.unesco.org/science/en/ev. ... N=201.html).[/size]
--------------------
Alternative #3: WG on Indigenous and Traditional Material Culture
Description/justification of why this Name would fit our WG:
The Name WG ON INDIGENOUS AND TRADITIONAL MATERIAL CULTURE recognizes and gives prominence to indigenous cultures, while the addition of the term “traditional” broadens the scope to traditional objects, which include folk/ folklore objects, and can qualify all objects or creations that are based to some degree on cultural traditions, and reflect a culture’s, or a community’s, identity, as per the WIPO definition (1). The Name is inclusive of the traditional material culture from all cultures, since all cultures have a traditional or folk component to them. The term focuses on material culture linked to community traditions. The term ‘traditional’ also includes new, modern, living creations: “While lying at the heart of a community’s identity, cultural heritage is also ‘living’ – it is constantly recreated as traditional artists and practitioners bring fresh perspectives to their work. Tradition is not only about imitation and reproduction; it is also about innovation and creation within the traditional framework. Therefore, traditional creativity is marked by a dynamic interplay between collective and individual creativity.’(2) The Name is clear and simple to understand. It follows internationally-recognized terminology and is neutral and respectful of all. “Material Culture” is appropriate within the context of this Name as per the reasons described on page 6.
REFERENCES:
(1) See ‘Intellectual Property and Traditional Cultural Expressions/Folklore’, p. 2. on WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) website: http://www.wipo.int/freepublications/en ... ub_913.pdf:
(…) ‘Traditional cultural expressions’/ ‘expressions of folklore’ means productions consisting of characteristic elements of the traditional artistic heritage developed and maintained by a community of [name of country] or by individuals reflecting the traditional artistic expectations of such a community, in particular:
– verbal expressions (…); – musical expressions (…); – expressions by actions (…); and,
– tangible expressions, such as: productions of folk art, in particular, drawings, paintings, carvings, sculptures, pottery, terracotta, mosaic, woodwork, metalware, jewelry, basket weaving, needlework, textiles, carpets, costumes; crafts; musical instruments; architectural forms.
‘Expressions of’ traditional culture (or ‘expressions of’ folklore) may be either intangible, tangible or, most usually, combinations of the two – an example of such a ‘mixed expression of folklore’ would be a woven rug (a tangible expression) that expresses elements of a traditional story (an intangible expression).'
Note: WIPO also states that it uses the terms ‘traditional cultural expressions’ (TCEs) and ‘expressions of folklore’ interchangeably, but that it recognizes that: 'Although ‘expressions of folklore’ has been the term used most commonly in international discussions and is found in many national laws, some communities have expressed reservations about negative connotations of the word ‘folklore.’'
(2) Cited from above under section: ‘What are “traditional cultural expressions” (TCEs)?'[/size]
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- caroledignard
- Posts: 73
- Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2008 7:02 pm
Re: Name Change Proposal: Recommended Alternative Names
by dancull on Wed May 30, 2012 8:11 pm
I'm going to approach this by process of elimination.
It seems to me that this process would be simpler if we were to first choose between the phrase "objects" and "material culture". Because I don't think we can fairly limit ourselves to 3 options if they don't all use the same phrase!
By which I mean for example why is option one: "WG on Objects from Indigenous and World Cultures" and not "WG on Material Culture from Indigenous and World Cultures". The same idea in reverse applies to options 2 and 3.
i.e.,
1. WG on Objects from Indigenous and World Cultures
1 (alternative). WG on Material Culture from Indigenous and World Cultures
2. WG on Indigenous and Local Material Culture
2 (alternative). WG on Indigenous and Local Objects
3. WG on Indigenous and Traditional Material Culture.
3 (alternative). WG on Indigenous and Traditional Objects.
My choice would be for material culture, as it does not have the same baggage as "objects" does in many contexts - i.e., as a deliniation between conservation specialisms (objects, textiles, paintings, etc).
So if we remove that choice we are left with:
1. Indigenous and World Cultures
2. Indigenous and Local
3. Indigenous and Traditional
I guess we're therefore fairly agreed on "Indigenous"!
Therefore we are left with:
1. World Cultures
2. Local
3. Traditional
So what we're really asking is which phrase do we prefer to describe all those things and peoples who might not be caught by the phrase "indigenous".
To my mind we can't use "Local" as that would remove the option for migrants (who are by definition not local - and may or maynot be indigenous), and we can't use "Traditional" as that would remove the whole 'contemporary' world (which is by definition not traditional - even if it is inspired by it/reacting to it).
So therefore my preference would be: "WG on Material Culture from Indigenous and World Cultures". Which is a variation on option one. But if we have to choose between the three I would also stick with option one as originally written for the same reasons as above.
Cheers,
Dan
It seems to me that this process would be simpler if we were to first choose between the phrase "objects" and "material culture". Because I don't think we can fairly limit ourselves to 3 options if they don't all use the same phrase!
By which I mean for example why is option one: "WG on Objects from Indigenous and World Cultures" and not "WG on Material Culture from Indigenous and World Cultures". The same idea in reverse applies to options 2 and 3.
i.e.,
1. WG on Objects from Indigenous and World Cultures
1 (alternative). WG on Material Culture from Indigenous and World Cultures
2. WG on Indigenous and Local Material Culture
2 (alternative). WG on Indigenous and Local Objects
3. WG on Indigenous and Traditional Material Culture.
3 (alternative). WG on Indigenous and Traditional Objects.
My choice would be for material culture, as it does not have the same baggage as "objects" does in many contexts - i.e., as a deliniation between conservation specialisms (objects, textiles, paintings, etc).
So if we remove that choice we are left with:
1. Indigenous and World Cultures
2. Indigenous and Local
3. Indigenous and Traditional
I guess we're therefore fairly agreed on "Indigenous"!
Therefore we are left with:
1. World Cultures
2. Local
3. Traditional
So what we're really asking is which phrase do we prefer to describe all those things and peoples who might not be caught by the phrase "indigenous".
To my mind we can't use "Local" as that would remove the option for migrants (who are by definition not local - and may or maynot be indigenous), and we can't use "Traditional" as that would remove the whole 'contemporary' world (which is by definition not traditional - even if it is inspired by it/reacting to it).
So therefore my preference would be: "WG on Material Culture from Indigenous and World Cultures". Which is a variation on option one. But if we have to choose between the three I would also stick with option one as originally written for the same reasons as above.
Cheers,
Dan
- dancull
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Mon May 17, 2010 11:01 pm
Re: Name Change Proposal: Recommended Alternative Names
by scotte on Thu May 31, 2012 12:59 am
thanks carole for this overview and the update on the committee's work. as all names would be fine, and none would be ideal, it is probably better to keep it simple. the first name will probably be quickly shortened as 'objects' and we will return to the technical speciality (not necessarily a bad thing). any of the two others with 'material culture' is good, number 2 privileging geographical description and number 3 significance. personally I'd go for number 3.
to Dan, as much as the intellectual process is valid, the name 'material culture of indigenous and world cultures' is too long and difficult... already the 3 options are quite long, probably best not to add words, even if a title will never recover all various facets of this working group!
kind regards
Sabine Cotte
to Dan, as much as the intellectual process is valid, the name 'material culture of indigenous and world cultures' is too long and difficult... already the 3 options are quite long, probably best not to add words, even if a title will never recover all various facets of this working group!
kind regards
Sabine Cotte
- scotte
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Fri Aug 21, 2009 1:57 am
Re: Name Change Proposal: Recommended Alternative Names
by muellerradloff on Thu May 31, 2012 6:43 am
Dear members of this WG,
I´m working since 30 years in an ethnographic museum of Saxony in Germany. I know this discussion about the name "Voelkerkunde/ Ethnography" because of his history. In the 1990th years we also discuss to change the name of our museums, but we came to the result to keep the names. There was not only a "negative" remembering. There were also many "positive" and a long traditon. ...and also a fixed term "Ethnography". All words that we will take have the same contents but in longer words. I think it is possible to keep the word "ethnographic" and give them a better meaning then in history by our activities. Christine Mueller-Radloff, Dresden
I´m working since 30 years in an ethnographic museum of Saxony in Germany. I know this discussion about the name "Voelkerkunde/ Ethnography" because of his history. In the 1990th years we also discuss to change the name of our museums, but we came to the result to keep the names. There was not only a "negative" remembering. There were also many "positive" and a long traditon. ...and also a fixed term "Ethnography". All words that we will take have the same contents but in longer words. I think it is possible to keep the word "ethnographic" and give them a better meaning then in history by our activities. Christine Mueller-Radloff, Dresden
- muellerradloff
- Posts: 1
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Re: Name Change Proposal: Recommended Alternative Names
by caroledignard on Thu May 31, 2012 3:24 pm
Thanks Dan, Sabine and Christine!
Re: your thoughts Christine on the term 'ethnographic', let's save that discussion for later next fall, for the Third Consultation, when we will at that point be deciding whether to keep the current WG Name 'Ethnographic Collections', or change the Name to our newly identified alternative (which we hope we will identify with the upcoming SurveyMonkey consultation June 13-19).
To Dan: we did consider all the various variations that you propose and that is in part why the Name committee - 15 persons in all - took so long to figure this out and come forward with Recommendations (so many possibilities!)- but in the end we found a consensus that both the terms 'Objects' and 'Material Culture' were good options depending on the rest of the Name's context (see my previous posting on this) and we felt that the term 'Material Culture' worked the best for 2 of the 3 recommended names, but we had a net preference for 'Objects' in the context of the other name (Objects from Indigenous and World Cultures').
We do wish to keep the list of names short for the membership to rank and rate on June 13-19 using SurveyMonkey, because with too many choices the result gets fudged.
But anyways, I do want to hear other people's views on this as on all the rest, it is good to have them and reflect on them.
Thank you very very much for having sent in your comments!
Carole
Re: your thoughts Christine on the term 'ethnographic', let's save that discussion for later next fall, for the Third Consultation, when we will at that point be deciding whether to keep the current WG Name 'Ethnographic Collections', or change the Name to our newly identified alternative (which we hope we will identify with the upcoming SurveyMonkey consultation June 13-19).
To Dan: we did consider all the various variations that you propose and that is in part why the Name committee - 15 persons in all - took so long to figure this out and come forward with Recommendations (so many possibilities!)- but in the end we found a consensus that both the terms 'Objects' and 'Material Culture' were good options depending on the rest of the Name's context (see my previous posting on this) and we felt that the term 'Material Culture' worked the best for 2 of the 3 recommended names, but we had a net preference for 'Objects' in the context of the other name (Objects from Indigenous and World Cultures').
We do wish to keep the list of names short for the membership to rank and rate on June 13-19 using SurveyMonkey, because with too many choices the result gets fudged.
But anyways, I do want to hear other people's views on this as on all the rest, it is good to have them and reflect on them.
Thank you very very much for having sent in your comments!
Carole
- caroledignard
- Posts: 73
- Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2008 7:02 pm
Re: Name Change Proposal: Recommended Alternative Names
by caroledignard on Thu May 31, 2012 8:30 pm
Hello: I am posting this on behalf of Heike Winkelbauer. -Carole
Thanks for all your hard work just a couple of brief comments.
-WG on Objects from Indigenous and World Cultures
My first choice
-WG on Indigenous and Local Material Culture
The term local is too specific, in New Zealand we have the highest population of pacific people. Therefore local materials very a lot from what was local to them before migrating to New Zealand as well as that materials in our collections differ from material used at present. So local can be materials send from the islands for be used here in New Zealand or local for example could be plastic materials from factories or materials which have been originally used by Maori.
-WG on Indigenous and Traditional Material Culture
The word traditional excludes modern materials which are very much part of contemporary Pacific arts and crafts and raises the question when does a material becomes traditional and what happen to object which are not made from traditional materials.
Best regards,
Heike
Heike Winkelbauer | Conservator | Auckland War Memorial Museum | Tamaki Paenga Hira | The Domain, Private Bag 92018, Victoria Street West, Auckland 1142, New Zealand | http://www.aucklandmuseum.com | M | P +64 9 306 7068 | F +64 9 379 9956 | E hwinkelbauer@aucklandmuseum.com
Thanks for all your hard work just a couple of brief comments.
-WG on Objects from Indigenous and World Cultures
My first choice
-WG on Indigenous and Local Material Culture
The term local is too specific, in New Zealand we have the highest population of pacific people. Therefore local materials very a lot from what was local to them before migrating to New Zealand as well as that materials in our collections differ from material used at present. So local can be materials send from the islands for be used here in New Zealand or local for example could be plastic materials from factories or materials which have been originally used by Maori.
-WG on Indigenous and Traditional Material Culture
The word traditional excludes modern materials which are very much part of contemporary Pacific arts and crafts and raises the question when does a material becomes traditional and what happen to object which are not made from traditional materials.
Best regards,
Heike
Heike Winkelbauer | Conservator | Auckland War Memorial Museum | Tamaki Paenga Hira | The Domain, Private Bag 92018, Victoria Street West, Auckland 1142, New Zealand | http://www.aucklandmuseum.com | M | P +64 9 306 7068 | F +64 9 379 9956 | E hwinkelbauer@aucklandmuseum.com
- caroledignard
- Posts: 73
- Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2008 7:02 pm
Re: Name Change Proposal: Recommended Alternative Names
by johnscott on Fri Jun 01, 2012 11:12 pm
John Scott Posting to forum. Please see below for the entire preceding email thread leading to my next four paragraphs--and please note that while this thread is not strictly as requested [ "We currently welcome membership comments and discussion on the Name Committee’s recommendations of 3 possible alternative Names..."] it IS closely related and Carole encouraged me to post:
Andrew:
Yes, in sincere self-examination we seek, as you put it, "...a respectful gesture to cultures which have been labelled ethnographic with the implication that [they are less]."
Surely neither most of us nor most people of "cultures which have been labelled ethnographic" consider our own artefacts ethnographic. Surely almost nobody outside intercultural elites is seriously concerned about comparing aesthetics between cultures, or expects themselves or their artworks to fit every taste.
Nobody has to consider themselves ethnographic, and in fact we do NOT label *cultures* 'ethnographic'. People who study cultures and people interested in those studies, are doing 'ethnography', and thus we call its specialist activities and accoutrements 'ethnographic'-- including the collections some of us conserve or curate. Whatever new terms may be substituted for 'ethnography', 'ethnographic', 'ethnic', ethnicity, etc., our issues will persist under the new rubric, because our core issue is not ethnography but relations between people, between peoples.
So--whence our studied self-analysis, and our heartfelt quest for respectful gesture? For most of us these come from our respect for others and our deisre for respectful and equitable relations between cultures. Let's continue advancing these values through our influence and actions, whatever the names we assign our work, our collections, or our working group.
~ John
email thread, most recent first:
From: John Scott <nyconsnfdn@aol.com>
Sent: Fri, Jun 1, 2012 9:48 am
Subject: yes Re: Name Change: 2nd Discussion Paper, 2nd Consultation JUNE 13
Good points, Andrew, which of course since this is all very semiotic deserve careful responses, and I hope we will have a number of participants.
Carole already asked me to send my message to the forum and also mentioned that her current discussion paper is directed toward our choosing a possible new name, and we will address the question of whether to change our WG's name in the next discussion.
Perhaps a key response to flesh out is that indeed the maker communities have their own experiences, languages, consciousnesses and impressions, as do all other communities, and there are fundamental issues and processes of translation and understanding. Indeed the genesis of this entire issue and discussion in our WG was the Delhi presentation by a person in a personal process and experience of transcending cultural interfaces. So that as respectful as we must be, that context is key in understanding his point of view and in attempting to generalize his insights and and interpret them for practical application.
If we carefully work through all of our logics and rhetorics, we are likely to find that we are on the horns of a a nomenclatural dilemma (or multi-lemma?) of the sort that arises in many fields and is seldom resolved to full satisfaction. Thus we are still ruminating almost four years after taking up the issue.
In any event I do look forward to more conversation as all of our schedules and stamina permit.
Appreciatively
~John
John Scott
nyconsnfdn@aol.com
-----Original Message-----
From: artcare <artcare@iprimus.com.au>
Sent: Fri, Jun 1, 2012 2:04 am
Subject: Re: Name Change: 2nd Discussion Paper, 2nd Consultation JUNE 13
John, it is not how we (and readers of the NYT) respond that is at issue but rather how the maker communities feel about their culture being called ethnographic, when the NYT readership does not consider their artefacts ethnographic.
The removal of the word is a respectful gesture to cultures which have been labelled ethnographic with the implication that the material is less than fine art or can never be modern art etc.
Andrew Thorn
ARTCARE
FIIC
artcare@iprimus.com.au
+614 1926 9326
----- Reply message -----
From: "John Scott" <nyconsnfdn@aol.com>
Subject: Name Change: 2nd Discussion Paper, 2nd Consultation JUNE 13
Date: Thu, May 31, 2012 8:07 am
Perhaps we should do this on the forum, since we'd like for our fora to be useful and relevant...
In any event, here is part of my view, from the periphery of our WG:
A book reviewer in this past weekend's New York Times described an author's approach to an aspect of contemporary social history as "ethnographic," and used the adjective in a very matter of fact sense and manner. This struck me as another indication that despite our Working Group's sensitivity to its current name, in the broader world "ethnographic" has little or none of the connotations we so actively decry and regret.
A simple internet search, on "definition ethnographic", returned
these three entries first:
A.
eth·nog·ra·phy
noun \eth-ˈnäg-rə-fē\
plural eth·nog·ra·phies
Definition of ETHNOGRAPHY
: the study and systematic recording of human cultures; also : a descriptive work produced from such research
—eth·no·graph·ic or eth·no·graph·i·cal adjective
—eth·no·graph·i·cal·ly adverb
B.
eth·nog·ra·phy (th-ngr-f)
n.
The branch of anthropology that deals with the scientific description of specific human cultures.
eth·nogra·pher n.
ethno·graphic (thn-grfk), ethno·graphi·cal adj.
ethno·graphi·cal·ly adv.
C.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ethnography (from Greek ἔθνος ethnos = folk/people and γράφω grapho = to write) is a qualitative research method aimed to learn and understand cultural phenomena which reflect the knowledge and system of meanings guiding the life of a cultural group.[1][2] It was pioneered in the field of socio-cultural anthropology but has also become a popular method in various other fields of social sciences—particularly in sociology,[3] communication studies, and history —that study people, ethnic groups and other ethnic formations, their ethnogenesis, composition, resettlement, social welfare characteristics, as well as their material and spiritual culture.[4] It is often employed for gathering empirical data on human societies and cultures. Data collection is often done through participant observation, interviews, questionnaires, etc. Ethnography aims to describe the nature of those who are studied (i.e. to describe a people, an ethnos) through writing.[5] In the biological sciences, this type of study might be called a "field study" or a "case report", both of which are used as common synonyms for "ethnography".[6]
Nothing adverse. Nothing less applicable to studying New York City than to studying Micronesia.
Perhaps among the real issues causing discomfort around our WG's name, are the underlying facts that our collections and studies are all about "people, ethnic groups and other ethnic formations" previously or still outside of and/or abused by the "developed" world, and that our cultures' interests and activities have long embodied attitudes and values that still need serious change.
Perhaps this process around maybe changing our WG's name will contribute to changes in our interests and activities toward foreign cultures, but we have found no clearly solution by our etymological quest, and with or without a name change, our main accomplishment has been the process itself.
Respectfully
~ John
John Scott
NYC
-----Original Message-----
From: Carole.Dignard <Carole.Dignard@pch.gc.ca>
Sent: Wed, May 30, 2012 2:02 pm
Subject: Name Change: 2nd Discussion Paper, 2nd Consultation JUNE 13
Hello dear member/interested party of the ICOM-CC Working Group on Ethnographic Collections:
You will find attached the document Name Change Proposal: Second Discussion Paper, which the Name Committee worked on over the course of these last few months. The goal was to find and describe to the membership with justifications, good alternative Working Group Names. We currently welcome membership comments and discussion on the Name Committee’s recommendations of 3 possible alternative Names:
-WG on Objects from Indigenous and World Cultures
-WG on Indigenous and Local Material Culture
-WG on Indigenous and Traditional Material Culture.
We would welcome your comments! Please post them on the ICOM-CC Forum, here: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=237 .. Or if you prefer, you can send it to me (carole.dignard@pch.gc..ca) and I will post it on your behalf.
PLEASE NOTE that discussion is planned to close on TUESDAY JUNE 12, 2012, so as to move forward to carry out the Second Membership Consultation (via SurveyMonkey)...
***end of JS forum post
Andrew:
Yes, in sincere self-examination we seek, as you put it, "...a respectful gesture to cultures which have been labelled ethnographic with the implication that [they are less]."
Surely neither most of us nor most people of "cultures which have been labelled ethnographic" consider our own artefacts ethnographic. Surely almost nobody outside intercultural elites is seriously concerned about comparing aesthetics between cultures, or expects themselves or their artworks to fit every taste.
Nobody has to consider themselves ethnographic, and in fact we do NOT label *cultures* 'ethnographic'. People who study cultures and people interested in those studies, are doing 'ethnography', and thus we call its specialist activities and accoutrements 'ethnographic'-- including the collections some of us conserve or curate. Whatever new terms may be substituted for 'ethnography', 'ethnographic', 'ethnic', ethnicity, etc., our issues will persist under the new rubric, because our core issue is not ethnography but relations between people, between peoples.
So--whence our studied self-analysis, and our heartfelt quest for respectful gesture? For most of us these come from our respect for others and our deisre for respectful and equitable relations between cultures. Let's continue advancing these values through our influence and actions, whatever the names we assign our work, our collections, or our working group.
~ John
email thread, most recent first:
From: John Scott <nyconsnfdn@aol.com>
Sent: Fri, Jun 1, 2012 9:48 am
Subject: yes Re: Name Change: 2nd Discussion Paper, 2nd Consultation JUNE 13
Good points, Andrew, which of course since this is all very semiotic deserve careful responses, and I hope we will have a number of participants.
Carole already asked me to send my message to the forum and also mentioned that her current discussion paper is directed toward our choosing a possible new name, and we will address the question of whether to change our WG's name in the next discussion.
Perhaps a key response to flesh out is that indeed the maker communities have their own experiences, languages, consciousnesses and impressions, as do all other communities, and there are fundamental issues and processes of translation and understanding. Indeed the genesis of this entire issue and discussion in our WG was the Delhi presentation by a person in a personal process and experience of transcending cultural interfaces. So that as respectful as we must be, that context is key in understanding his point of view and in attempting to generalize his insights and and interpret them for practical application.
If we carefully work through all of our logics and rhetorics, we are likely to find that we are on the horns of a a nomenclatural dilemma (or multi-lemma?) of the sort that arises in many fields and is seldom resolved to full satisfaction. Thus we are still ruminating almost four years after taking up the issue.
In any event I do look forward to more conversation as all of our schedules and stamina permit.
Appreciatively
~John
John Scott
nyconsnfdn@aol.com
-----Original Message-----
From: artcare <artcare@iprimus.com.au>
Sent: Fri, Jun 1, 2012 2:04 am
Subject: Re: Name Change: 2nd Discussion Paper, 2nd Consultation JUNE 13
John, it is not how we (and readers of the NYT) respond that is at issue but rather how the maker communities feel about their culture being called ethnographic, when the NYT readership does not consider their artefacts ethnographic.
The removal of the word is a respectful gesture to cultures which have been labelled ethnographic with the implication that the material is less than fine art or can never be modern art etc.
Andrew Thorn
ARTCARE
FIIC
artcare@iprimus.com.au
+614 1926 9326
----- Reply message -----
From: "John Scott" <nyconsnfdn@aol.com>
Subject: Name Change: 2nd Discussion Paper, 2nd Consultation JUNE 13
Date: Thu, May 31, 2012 8:07 am
Perhaps we should do this on the forum, since we'd like for our fora to be useful and relevant...
In any event, here is part of my view, from the periphery of our WG:
A book reviewer in this past weekend's New York Times described an author's approach to an aspect of contemporary social history as "ethnographic," and used the adjective in a very matter of fact sense and manner. This struck me as another indication that despite our Working Group's sensitivity to its current name, in the broader world "ethnographic" has little or none of the connotations we so actively decry and regret.
A simple internet search, on "definition ethnographic", returned
these three entries first:
A.
eth·nog·ra·phy
noun \eth-ˈnäg-rə-fē\
plural eth·nog·ra·phies
Definition of ETHNOGRAPHY
: the study and systematic recording of human cultures; also : a descriptive work produced from such research
—eth·no·graph·ic or eth·no·graph·i·cal adjective
—eth·no·graph·i·cal·ly adverb
B.
eth·nog·ra·phy (th-ngr-f)
n.
The branch of anthropology that deals with the scientific description of specific human cultures.
eth·nogra·pher n.
ethno·graphic (thn-grfk), ethno·graphi·cal adj.
ethno·graphi·cal·ly adv.
C.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ethnography (from Greek ἔθνος ethnos = folk/people and γράφω grapho = to write) is a qualitative research method aimed to learn and understand cultural phenomena which reflect the knowledge and system of meanings guiding the life of a cultural group.[1][2] It was pioneered in the field of socio-cultural anthropology but has also become a popular method in various other fields of social sciences—particularly in sociology,[3] communication studies, and history —that study people, ethnic groups and other ethnic formations, their ethnogenesis, composition, resettlement, social welfare characteristics, as well as their material and spiritual culture.[4] It is often employed for gathering empirical data on human societies and cultures. Data collection is often done through participant observation, interviews, questionnaires, etc. Ethnography aims to describe the nature of those who are studied (i.e. to describe a people, an ethnos) through writing.[5] In the biological sciences, this type of study might be called a "field study" or a "case report", both of which are used as common synonyms for "ethnography".[6]
Nothing adverse. Nothing less applicable to studying New York City than to studying Micronesia.
Perhaps among the real issues causing discomfort around our WG's name, are the underlying facts that our collections and studies are all about "people, ethnic groups and other ethnic formations" previously or still outside of and/or abused by the "developed" world, and that our cultures' interests and activities have long embodied attitudes and values that still need serious change.
Perhaps this process around maybe changing our WG's name will contribute to changes in our interests and activities toward foreign cultures, but we have found no clearly solution by our etymological quest, and with or without a name change, our main accomplishment has been the process itself.
Respectfully
~ John
John Scott
NYC
-----Original Message-----
From: Carole.Dignard <Carole.Dignard@pch.gc.ca>
Sent: Wed, May 30, 2012 2:02 pm
Subject: Name Change: 2nd Discussion Paper, 2nd Consultation JUNE 13
Hello dear member/interested party of the ICOM-CC Working Group on Ethnographic Collections:
You will find attached the document Name Change Proposal: Second Discussion Paper, which the Name Committee worked on over the course of these last few months. The goal was to find and describe to the membership with justifications, good alternative Working Group Names. We currently welcome membership comments and discussion on the Name Committee’s recommendations of 3 possible alternative Names:
-WG on Objects from Indigenous and World Cultures
-WG on Indigenous and Local Material Culture
-WG on Indigenous and Traditional Material Culture.
We would welcome your comments! Please post them on the ICOM-CC Forum, here: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=237 .. Or if you prefer, you can send it to me (carole.dignard@pch.gc..ca) and I will post it on your behalf.
PLEASE NOTE that discussion is planned to close on TUESDAY JUNE 12, 2012, so as to move forward to carry out the Second Membership Consultation (via SurveyMonkey)...
***end of JS forum post
- johnscott
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Sat Oct 24, 2009 8:16 am
Send Comments by June 12: Recommended Alternative Names
by caroledignard on Mon Jun 11, 2012 3:41 pm
Hi everyone:
I would like to encourage members and interested parties to send in any last comments concerning the 3 proposed, possible alternative Name of the Working Group:
(1) WG on Objects from Indigenous and World Cultures
(2) WG on Indigenous and Local Material Culture
(3) WG on Indigenous and Traditional Material Culture.
Details on these 3 names and background info were all posted on this Forum.
The discussion will close tomorrow, Tuesday June 12. On Wednesday June 13, I shall be sending out the SurveyMonkey consultation document, with replies due by June 19. Thanks! Carole
I would like to encourage members and interested parties to send in any last comments concerning the 3 proposed, possible alternative Name of the Working Group:
(1) WG on Objects from Indigenous and World Cultures
(2) WG on Indigenous and Local Material Culture
(3) WG on Indigenous and Traditional Material Culture.
Details on these 3 names and background info were all posted on this Forum.
The discussion will close tomorrow, Tuesday June 12. On Wednesday June 13, I shall be sending out the SurveyMonkey consultation document, with replies due by June 19. Thanks! Carole
- caroledignard
- Posts: 73
- Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2008 7:02 pm
Re: Name Change Proposal: Recommended Alternative Names
by caroledignard on Mon Jun 11, 2012 6:20 pm
Posted on behalf of the author. - Carole D.
Hello all,
I’m am inclined to shy away from option #2, as I find the term “local” a bit confusing and subjective. Local to whom? Local to where the object was created? Where it was used? Where it was collected? Where it is conserved?
My two cents’ worth….
Dee Stubbs-Lee , conservator, New Brunswick Museum, Canada
Hello all,
I’m am inclined to shy away from option #2, as I find the term “local” a bit confusing and subjective. Local to whom? Local to where the object was created? Where it was used? Where it was collected? Where it is conserved?
My two cents’ worth….
Dee Stubbs-Lee , conservator, New Brunswick Museum, Canada
- caroledignard
- Posts: 73
- Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2008 7:02 pm
Re: Name Change Proposal: Recommended Alternative Names
by cxgfgs on Fri Aug 03, 2012 8:36 am
Thanks Dan, Sabine and Christine!
Re: your thoughts Christine on the term 'ethnographic', let's save that discussion for later next fall, for the Third Consultation, when we will at that point be deciding whether to keep the current WG Name 'Ethnographic Collections', or change the Name to our newly identified alternative (which we hope we will identify with the upcoming SurveyMonkey consultation June 13-19).
_____________________
Herren Ray Ban Sonnenbrille
Re: your thoughts Christine on the term 'ethnographic', let's save that discussion for later next fall, for the Third Consultation, when we will at that point be deciding whether to keep the current WG Name 'Ethnographic Collections', or change the Name to our newly identified alternative (which we hope we will identify with the upcoming SurveyMonkey consultation June 13-19).
_____________________
Herren Ray Ban Sonnenbrille
- cxgfgs
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Fri Aug 03, 2012 8:23 am