Ruined Workplaces – On Postindustrial Romanticism
Author
Summary, in English
When the constructions from the industrial society are abandoned and start to decay, former workplaces gain a new potential. Through activities like urban exploration old abandoned factories become arenas for photographic expeditions. The photos are presented on websites and in books, and are characterized by a kind of postindustrial romanticism. Meanwhile other industrial settings are refurbished into new facilities like offices, museums or experience centers. Here the patinized industrial structures are combined with new constructions optimized for new activities. I will discuss these two strands of postindustrial pursuits by using the term Industrial Cool. The term is an attempt to capture the aestheticizations and historicizations of former industry, as well as the emergence of a new emotional landcape of postindustrial romanticism.
Department/s
Publishing year
2009
Language
English
Document type
Conference paper
Topic
- Ethnology
Keywords
- ruins
- Industrial Cool
- romanticism
- postindustrial society
Conference name
ACSIS Kultur~Natur 2009
Conference date
2009-06-15 - 2009-06-17
Conference place
Norrköping, Sweden
Status
Unpublished