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Tutorial: Claudia Kilian
Recently, there has been a strong focus in TAS seminars on memorialization and museal practices; this term we will be taking another step forward in this direction. In collaboration with the DFKI (Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Künstliche Intelligenz/German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence at UdS), TAS was enabled to create 3-D models of the unique architectonic features of the buildings the British believed were best suited to both demonstrating their power as rulers, and creating a home away from home as residency of the highest representatives of Britain. In taking the example of India, where the first Government House was erected, we will use the virtual model of this building and its gardens as the basis for further investigations, both virtual and real.
Since Government House Calcutta was designed as an improved version of architect Robert Adam's Kedleston Hall, we will set off for Derbyshire after having familiarized ourselves with the 3-D model. From Kedleston Hall our trip will bring us to the Clive Museum in 700-year old Powis Castle, Welshpool. Named after Robert Clive (1725-77) of the East India Company, the man popularly regarded as mainly responsible for establishing British control in India, the museum houses his unique collection of 'booty'-cum-gifts to England, to which his son, the Earl of Powis, contributed, too. Returning via London will allow us to first visit Geffrye Museum to learn more about the history of English home interiors, before we start working on the records relevant to Govt. House in the British Library.
On the basis of our on-site research, we will continue to add more content to the website dedicated to this project by combing available private correspondence and diaries (see CLIX) concerning further aspects of Govt. House and Calcutta. Contributions made by visiting experts will round off the seminar's activities.
TEXTS:
Letters from India with reference to Govt. House and life there, written in particular, by:
The wives/sisters of Governor-Generals/Viceroys, e.g. Emily Eden, Charlotte Canning, Edith Lytton, Mary Curzon
The Governor-Generals/Viceroys, e.g. Wellesley and Curzon.
Participation
Regular attendance and active participation in all sessions and activities; individual research on a relevant topic of your choice for short oral presentations / group work, followed by a term paper (7500 words, in MLA format) on a larger research topic. Please check the TAS website under "Your Studies" for further details about oral presentation and essay writing modalities. |
