Phenomenology and Phenomenology and Contact Landscapes Contact Landscapes

in Australiain AustraliaClaire Ratican (University of

Cambridge, UK) and Dr Alice Gorman (Flinders University, SA)

PhenomenologyPhenomenologyTranscendental (Transcendental (Husserl 1913) Husserl 1913)

Hermeneutic (Heidegger 1927) Hermeneutic (Heidegger 1927)

Ontological (Satre 1943) Ontological (Satre 1943)

Existential (Merleau-Ponty Existential (Merleau-Ponty 1962)1962)

DefinitionDefinition

The study, or description, of The study, or description, of phenomena as they are phenomena as they are experienced by the embodied experienced by the embodied human through sensory human through sensory perception.perception.

Archaeological Archaeological ApplicationsApplications

Methodological Methodological ChallengesChallenges

Fevered imaginations?

“New readers should be given a health warning: these texts variously include poetry… personal musings and a good deal of rhetoric.”

(Flemming 2006:267-8)

Contact Landscapes Contact Landscapes (1)(1)

“The panoptic mechanism (Bentham (1843) ) arranges spatial unities [to] make it possible to see constantly and recognize instantly” (Foucault 1995:200).

Total institution theory (Goffman 1961) explores the landscapes qualities which obstruct “social intercourse with the outside”.The archaeology of capitalism uses Marxist theory to explain the landscapes, material culture and human relations ensuing from mechanisms of production and consumption

Contact Landscapes Contact Landscapes (2)(2)

Agency theory (Bourdieu 1977 and Giddens 1979) envisions social agents as individuals with personal goals or objectives involved in the negotiation of social relations and structures.

Acculturation theory examines changes in cultural patterns of either or both contact groups when different cultures come into continuous first-hand contact (Redfield et al. 1936).

Accommodation theory underlines the conscious acceptance of some, and resistance of other, cultural traits in culture contact contexts (Birmingham 1992:176).

Contact Landscapes Contact Landscapes (3)(3)

Experiencing the Experiencing the Contact Landscape Contact Landscape

Taste

Sound

Texture

PotentialPotentialOvercomes dominance of visuality in studies of Overcomes dominance of visuality in studies of contactcontact

Does not simplify contact relations by recording Does not simplify contact relations by recording changes in changes in artefactartefact style and types. style and types.

Highlights continuity of landscapeHighlights continuity of landscape

Aids interpretation through use of historical Aids interpretation through use of historical documents and allows a more nuanced exploration documents and allows a more nuanced exploration of Indigenous experience given the rarity of of Indigenous experience given the rarity of written Indigenous accounts of early missionswritten Indigenous accounts of early missions

Does not limit experiences recorded in historical Does not limit experiences recorded in historical documentsdocuments

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Michael Morrison, Darlene McNaughton, Justin Michael Morrison, Darlene McNaughton, Justin Shiner, the Anhatangaith Traditional Owners and Shiner, the Anhatangaith Traditional Owners and the AIATSIS Grant (G2007/7266) through which the the AIATSIS Grant (G2007/7266) through which the exploration of phenomenological methodologies exploration of phenomenological methodologies applied in historical contexts was facilitated.applied in historical contexts was facilitated.

Lynley Wallis for her support and creative Lynley Wallis for her support and creative contribution to this paper and Wallis Heritage contribution to this paper and Wallis Heritage Consulting staff for their conceptual development Consulting staff for their conceptual development and input.and input.