Material History Research Excellence Group

 

Drawing on a broad membership to include students, archivists, practice-led researchers and cultural-historical analysts, the Material History REG has formed with the overarching intent to defy easy binaries at every level. Besides reassessing items traditionally prized and assigned cultural importance, such as art works and archives, our work also urges the re-evaluation of ephemeral items, those made with less thought for value or longevity, including magazines, printed adverts, personal documents, embroidery, film slides, and garments.

 

Our researchers’ distinctive approaches include innovative and creative engagement with historic and contemporary artefacts and the media cultures that drive their acceptance and popularity. This generates fresh research perspectives, underpinning and complementing work with historian and archivist colleagues across the university.