________________________________________ From: h-costume-boun...@indra.com [h-costume-boun...@indra.com] on behalf of Lavolta Press [f...@lavoltapress.com] Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2009 6:19 PM To: Historical Costume Subject: Re: [h-cost] PhD programs in costume history
Considering that modern technology has considerably affected fibers, dyes, and finishes, how useful is a modern course on same to someone only interested in historic costume? I am aware that even natural dyes, etc. have not been the same everywhere and everywhen. But if a modern course is largely devoted to synthetic fibers and the dyes for them, and modern processes, preparing students for practical careers in modern factories, how useful is it to the historian? ------ For one thing, it can be fascinating. My department (University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Textiles, Clothing and Design) included designers, textile scientists, and costume/textile historians with or without an emphasis on quilt studies. The graduate seminar presentations on yarns spun from chicken feathers, or fibers derived from corn protein (fabulous hand, takes dye beautifully, dissolves in water) were fascinating, and anyone who's had an antique silk shatter in their hands would benefit from an understanding of silk post-processing. Even something as simple as understanding *why* you don't use buffered tissue with protein fibers makes it easier to understand *that* you don't use buffered tissue with protein fibers. I do have some science background, I'd just like to go further than my program was able to take me. Emma _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
