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 >[log in to unmask]