‘Where were we now?’ Ficto-heritage: a new approach to in-situ displays of historical photography
type: CreativeWork
description: In-situ photographic displays are a recent form of heritage production that superimposes historic images onto the site of their origination. These photographic displays have been made possible by the accumulation of old images of place available to be displayed against and contrasted with present views. This form of heritage practice is driven by new museological approaches that aim to reach audiences outside the museum. In addition, it is a practice used by commercial organisations to commodify, brand and market locations. Such displays are increasingly common. They appear to be an innocent record of the past. They seem unauthored and definitive. However, it is argued that these displays require a more thorough interrogation. Therefore, this investigation takes Chantal Mouffe’s discussion of consensus and dissensus, to investigate how debate might be encouraged or discouraged in the minds of audiences viewing the displays; and the writing of Henri Lefebvre, to explore ways in which in-situ photographic displays produce and maintain spatial and social relations. A number of case studies are explored using these theories to seek to establish what current in-situ photographic heritage practices ‘do’; how they are consumed; the way they make people feel about the present; and how they shape attitudes to the future. Based on the literature review and the case study analysis, this thesis argues that such displays are neither neutral nor innocent. Instead, they sustain or reinforce dominant narratives about the present while repressing other possible interpretations. As a practice-based study, the investigation goes on to explore how in-situ photographic displays may, alternatively, become a creative tool for contesting and re-imagining the present and the future. A methodological approach is developed. Elements are taken from Michel Foucault’s analysis of power relations, which determine absence and presence in the archive; Michel de Certeau’s discussion of the narrative…
abstract: In-situ photographic displays are a recent form of heritage production that superimposes historic images onto the site of their origination. These photographic displays have been made possible by the accumulation of old images of place available to be displayed against and contrasted with present views. This form of heritage practice is driven by new museological approaches that aim to reach audiences outside the museum. In addition, it is a practice used by commercial organisations to commodify, brand and market locations. Such displays are increasingly common. They appear to be an innocent record of the past. They seem unauthored and definitive. However, it is argued that these displays require a more thorough interrogation. Therefore, this investigation takes Chantal Mouffe’s discussion of consensus and dissensus, to investigate how debate might be encouraged or discouraged in the minds of audiences viewing the displays; and the writing of Henri Lefebvre, to explore ways in which in-situ photographic displays produce and maintain spatial and social relations. A number of case studies are explored using these theories to seek to establish what current in-situ photographic heritage practices ‘do’; how they are consumed; the way they make people feel about the present; and how they shape attitudes to the future. Based on the literature review and the case study analysis, this thesis argues that such displays are neither neutral nor innocent. Instead, they sustain or reinforce dominant narratives about the present while repressing other possible interpretations. As a practice-based study, the investigation goes on to explore how in-situ photographic displays may, alternatively, become a creative tool for contesting and re-imagining the present and the future. A methodological approach is developed. Elements are taken from Michel Foucault’s analysis of power relations, which determine absence and presence in the archive; Michel de Certeau’s discussion of the narrative…
author: Haycocks, Matthew
language: en
keywords: Photography
identifier: Haycocks, Matthew <https://ualresearchonline.arts.ac.uk/view/creators/Haycocks=3AMatthew=3A=3A.html> (2023) ‘Where were we now?’ Ficto-heritage: a new approach to in-situ displays of historical photography. PhD thesis, University of the Arts London.
date published: 2023-01
date modified: 2026-07-24T01:00:50Z
provider: University of the Arts London
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of the Arts London