Doug, this sounds like a great start for an exhibition concept.  It could
even be developed (should anyone want to !!! ???) to include the executive
style of camping - corporate "retreats" that have an outdoors element that
serves to remind the suited class of basic values and issues, and/or to
foster team-building.
I have no idea what sort of foodstuffs go along with such retreats, but
that might introduce a new theme...

MARGARET BIRTLEY
Museum Studies, Deakin University
Melbourne, Australia

>The posts regarding camping exhibits brought to mind some interesting
>cultural questions which might or might not have been dealt with in
>exhibits before:
>
>1. What some call "camping," others have called living.
>The most obvious image I can recall is American plains Indians.  Boy
>scouts (at least during my brief involvement with them) have taken
>American Indians as exemplars in this sort of back-to-nature activity.
>There are plenty of cultures worldwide that "camp" or have camped.  Has
>any exhibit covered the contextual and cultural gulf between primieval
>survival and recreational camping, with attention to the thematic
>parallels?  Would this be feasible and worth doing?  What objects to use
>-- flint axe vs. Swiss Army knife?
>
>2.  What about a comparative exhibit on political camping?  Scouting has
>been overtly military (in addition to Americans' emphasis on civic
>themes) with great stress on uniforms, competition, field skills, etc.  I
>recall a propaganda film (German, ca. 1930s) called _Hitler Junge Quex_
>which superbly displayed the political possibilities of "camping."  Has
>or could an exhibit be mounted explaining the multiple meanings of
>camping for young people in civil and political contexts?
>
>Just some more ideas to kick around.
>
>Regards,
>Doug
>
>........................
>Doug Lantry
>University of Delaware
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