Here's a new thread suggestion (something to do while we munch s'mores) --

I've been studying and interpreting clothing as technological material
culture, and I wonder if anyone out there is engaged in similar pursuits
(pardon the pun).  I'm working primarily as a historian of technology
trying to draw some broad meaning and thematic marrow from the
development and use of spacesuits.  I've depended upon
interpretive/evaluative schemes posited by E. McClung Fleming and David
Pye, and I think I'm having some success (well, personal satisfaction at
least -- others will have to judge my success or lack thereof).

And so -- Anyone have any experiences to trade in the clothing area?
I've used the collections of the Smithsonian Nat'l Air & Space Museum,
and plan to return to them during my dissertation, and I don't think I've
ever dealt with anything as just-plain-flat-out-fascinating as those
complex workclothes.

So what schemes do all of you use when evaluating/interpreting clothing?
Do you even embrace formal research programs over stream-of-consciousness
interpretation?  Does connoisseurship (a la Charles F. Montgomery) apply
to clothing (it seems not, for spacesuits anyway)?  Can anyone suggest
good studies of clothing and its role in culture?

Hope this starts a good one.  (munch, munch)

Regards,
Doug

........................
Doug Lantry
University of Delaware
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