Traditions and Transitions folk narrative in the contemporary world
16-20
July 2001 The University of Melbourne, Australia
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Traditions and Transitions folk narrative in the contemporary world |
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | main abstract index | main congress page |
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The glory box was an integral part of the rite of passage
of innumerable Australian women during the 1930s and 1940s (being the focus of
this study). Yet it has been little represented in Australian historical
writings and the principal means of rediscovery is through female collective
and individual memory.
The glory box (marriage chest, dowry chest, bottom drawer) is a container of
memories, which can be used to examine social, economic and cultural
experiences of Australian women during the 1930s and 1940s. By drawing
principally upon oral history narratives, the glory box and its related signifiers
can be rediscovered and repositioned within public history. As a metaphor for
female experiences, the glory box is a potent memory tool through which to
explore issues of economic dependence, identity, sexuality, consumerism and
artistry.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | main abstract index | main congress page |
| N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |