Immediate Realities: an anthropology of computer visualisation in archaeology
The use of computer visualisation techniques is an increasing part of archaeology's illustrative repertoire - but how do these images relate to the wider visual language that archaeologists use? This article assesses computer visualisations in the light of a range of anthropological, art histor...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of York
2000-06-01
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| Series: | Internet Archaeology |
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| Online Access: | http://intarch.ac.uk/journal/issue8/bateman_index.html |
| _version_ | 1827266359888707584 |
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| author | Jonathan Bateman |
| author_facet | Jonathan Bateman |
| author_sort | Jonathan Bateman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The use of computer visualisation techniques is an increasing part of archaeology's illustrative repertoire - but how do these images relate to the wider visual language that archaeologists use? This article assesses computer visualisations in the light of a range of anthropological, art historical, and cultural critiques to place them and their production squarely within the broader spectrum of the discipline's output.
Moving from identifying the shortcomings in the methods and scope of existing critiques of archaeological illustrations, a comprehensive approach to understanding the visual culture of archaeology is outlined. This approach is specifically applied to computer visualisations, and identifies both the sociology of their production, and the technological nature of their creation and reproduction as key elements influencing their readings as communicators of archaeological ideas. In order to develop useful understandings of how the visual languages we employ act within the discourse of the discipline, we must be inclusive in our critiques of those languages. Until we consider the cultural products of our discipline with the same sophistication with which we examine the products of other cultures (past and present), we will struggle to use them to their full potential. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T17:59:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-45dcd1a212994a4a91f520ceeeb64c66 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1363-5387 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-03-22T04:16:36Z |
| publishDate | 2000-06-01 |
| publisher | University of York |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Internet Archaeology |
| spelling | doaj.art-45dcd1a212994a4a91f520ceeeb64c662024-04-28T08:20:06ZengUniversity of YorkInternet Archaeology1363-53872000-06-01810.11141/ia.8.6Immediate Realities: an anthropology of computer visualisation in archaeologyJonathan Bateman0University of SheffieldThe use of computer visualisation techniques is an increasing part of archaeology's illustrative repertoire - but how do these images relate to the wider visual language that archaeologists use? This article assesses computer visualisations in the light of a range of anthropological, art historical, and cultural critiques to place them and their production squarely within the broader spectrum of the discipline's output. Moving from identifying the shortcomings in the methods and scope of existing critiques of archaeological illustrations, a comprehensive approach to understanding the visual culture of archaeology is outlined. This approach is specifically applied to computer visualisations, and identifies both the sociology of their production, and the technological nature of their creation and reproduction as key elements influencing their readings as communicators of archaeological ideas. In order to develop useful understandings of how the visual languages we employ act within the discourse of the discipline, we must be inclusive in our critiques of those languages. Until we consider the cultural products of our discipline with the same sophistication with which we examine the products of other cultures (past and present), we will struggle to use them to their full potential.http://intarch.ac.uk/journal/issue8/bateman_index.htmlInternetillustrationcomputer visualisationanthropologyart historyvisual languages |
| spellingShingle | Jonathan Bateman Immediate Realities: an anthropology of computer visualisation in archaeology Internet Archaeology Internet illustration computer visualisation anthropology art history visual languages |
| title | Immediate Realities: an anthropology of computer visualisation in archaeology |
| title_full | Immediate Realities: an anthropology of computer visualisation in archaeology |
| title_fullStr | Immediate Realities: an anthropology of computer visualisation in archaeology |
| title_full_unstemmed | Immediate Realities: an anthropology of computer visualisation in archaeology |
| title_short | Immediate Realities: an anthropology of computer visualisation in archaeology |
| title_sort | immediate realities an anthropology of computer visualisation in archaeology |
| topic | Internet illustration computer visualisation anthropology art history visual languages |
| url | http://intarch.ac.uk/journal/issue8/bateman_index.html |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jonathanbateman immediaterealitiesananthropologyofcomputervisualisationinarchaeology |