Cultural narratives and the historical subject : Annie Garnett, her diary, life and works
This thesis investigates and contextualises as a historical subject a woman textile artist, Annie Gamett (1864-1942). It explores her personal writings, in particular the diary which she kept between the years 1899 and 1909. The use of autolbiographical writings requires a reflexive methodology. In recognising this I engage with the fragmentary material in the archive using feminist theories and discourses to produce an 'intellectual biography', within which the elements of Annie Gamett's life, revealed through her own words, interact with the cultural narratives which challenged and impinged on her individual life. In engaging with Annie's subjectivity, as a historical 'site', I aim to reveal the subtle complexities of 'real' lived experience, and show how a woman, who was inspired by her love of nature and troubled by the effects of industrialisation, was able to develop her creative skills and run a successful textile business within the remit of the Arts and Crafts Movement. My approach to this historical subject unites a feminist perspective with an endorsement of the discipline of Women's History and its central commitment to the recovery of lost vOIces.
Brunton, Jennifer
Feminism; Women's history; Textile artist
Cultural narratives and the historical subject : Annie Garnett, her diary, life and works. This thesis investigates and contextualises as a historical subject a woman textile artist, Annie Gamett (1864-1942). It explores her personal writings, in particular the diary which she kept between the years 1899 and 1909. The use of autolbiographical writings requires a reflexive methodology. In recognising this I engage with the fragmentary material in the archive using feminist theories and discourses to produce an 'intellectual biography', within which the elements of Annie Gamett's life, revealed through her own words, interact with the cultural narratives which challenged and impinged on her individual life. In engaging with Annie's subjectivity, as a historical 'site', I aim to reveal the subtle complexities of 'real' lived experience, and show how a woman, who was inspired by her love of nature and troubled by the effects of industrialisation, was able to develop her creative skills and run a successful textile business within the remit of the Arts and Crafts Movement. My approach to this historical subject unites a feminist perspective with an endorsement of the discipline of Women's History and its central commitment to the recovery of lost vOIces.
cultural narrative historical subject diary life_work investigates contextualises historical subject woman textile artist explores personal writing particular diary keep use writing require reflexive methodology recognise engage fragmentary material archive use feminist_theory discourse produce intellectual biography within element life reveal word interact cultural narrative challenge impinge individual life engage subjectivity historical site aim reveal subtle complexity real live_experience show woman inspire love nature troubled effect industrialisation able_develop creative skill run successful textile business within remit arts movement historical subject unites feminist_perspective endorsement discipline women history central commitment recovery lose voices