Doing cultural history: methods, historiography and the arts

This research cluster offers a forum to discuss methods and concepts for the study of cultural history and the history of the arts in an era where globalization, digitalization and the questioning of cultural hierarchies continue to expand the horizon of cultural history.

Our focus is on the study of aesthetic objects and cultural practices across historical contexts as well as the study of cultural transfer and circulation of objects, texts, practices, and ideologies. This involves both qualitative and quantitative methodologies concerning archival practice, documentation, and development of strategies for the academic use of artefacts and records, as well as the position of subjective and collective memories. 

Rather than developing a common methodology the research cluster seeks to cultivate a mutual scholarly awareness of the plethora of relevant state of the art methods to enhance the study of culture and its historical embeddedness in bodies, objects, texts, places, and practices. Importantly, this also involves critical awareness of how current change in archival practices and infrastructures may not only facilitate new approaches but also, at a deeper level, transform our understanding of objects and texts. Finally, the cluster aims to cultivate an interest in experimenting with original and uncommon methods and approaches to themes, objects and artefacts is part of the clusters’ course of action.

The Doing cultural history research cluster is thus founded on the common assumption that critical methodological development is essential to our ability to pose questions which are new to our disciplines.