UWSpace is currently experiencing technical difficulties resulting from its recent migration to a new version of its software. These technical issues are not affecting the submission and browse features of the site. UWaterloo community members may continue submitting items to UWSpace. We apologize for the inconvenience, and are actively working to resolve these technical issues.
 

Niagara Prospects

Thumbnail Image

Files

Wong_MArch_Thesis_2009.pdf (23.89 MB)

Date

2009-07-30T20:21:49Z

Authors

Wong, Johnathan

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

University of Waterloo

Abstract

This thesis proposes a fresh engagement with the idea of the archaic as a means to recover and replenish some of the lost vitality suffered during what William Barrett characterized the modern period as “the gigantic externalization of life.” An introductory essay examines how the related ideas of the archaic, the primal, and the prehistoric have at key moments provided a source of creative energy for the arts of the last century. Collections of found material, and several photographic studies document the city of Niagara Falls—icon of American pop culture and faded relic of romanticism. The photographs present an alternative to the world of the touristic snapshot, and address the questions: In the age of simulation how do we know what is real anymore? Can we learn to see with archaic eyes?

Description

Keywords

Niagara Falls, prehistoric art, Lascaux, Love Canal, Echota, hydroelectric power station, motels, tourism, camera obscura, Horseshoe Falls, Ruscha, Atget

LC Keywords

Citation

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10012/4523

Collections

Theses
Architecture