Traces of the Past

We see more and more often today the trivialization of history.  Our society is one that has turned its back on the "real" in pursuit of an environment that is more entertaining, more exciting, and above all, more profitable.  We are, to quote the modern philosopher Gianni Vattimo, "witnessing a dissolution of histocracy."  A dissolution of the boundaries between past, present and future. "…in our present historical condition, we are witnessing a manifestation of being marked by disappearance, by becoming lighter, less cogent, less definite"

Taking this intransigent value of history under account, I have chosen an historical model on which to base my final project; namely, Harlech Castle of northern Wales, circ. 1295AD.  It is my intention to clear up many of the misconceptions that have sprung up regarding castles, their design and their purpose.  Money making venues such as Medieval Times and the "fantasy" style castle at the heart of Disney World have commercialized one of the masterpieces of the pre-industrialized world, at the price of accuracy.

It is a shame that people cannot experience the truth for themselves, but when it comes to historical sites, we are either not willing to travel halfway across the world, or if we were, denied entrance.   However, as people continue to look towards the "virtual" as becoming the new standard of "real", it is my hope that both of these shortcomings can be accommodated.  A virtual world accurately representing Harlech Castle in 1295 will compliment a photographic and informational tour of the castle in its present state. This will allow the guest a side-by-side comparison of a 700-year difference.  Throughout the virtual world, guests will be given historical information through an automated tour guide, modeled after such "real" world automated tours like the one found aboard the USS Constitution. The world, along with the tour guide, is intended to provide information about some of the misunderstood and trivialized parts that make up castle architecture and history. 

View Today's Castle                                                            Visit Harlech; circ. 1295AD

 Influences:

Articles

Vattimo, Gianni; The end of Modernity the end of the Project?,  1981

Kern, Stephen; The Nature of Space, 1983

Crawford, Marie; The World in a Shopping Mall, 1992

Corner, James; Eidetic Operations and New Landscapes, 1997

Books

Taylor, Arnold; Studies in Castles and Castle-Building, The Hambledon Press: 1985

Amerlinck; Mari-Jose; Architectural Anthropology, Bergin & Garvey:  2001

Pounds, N.J.G., The Medieval Castle in England and Wales, The Cambridge Press: 1990

Crichton, Michael; Timeline, Alfred A. Knopf: 1999

Webpages

History; http://www.castlewales.com/harlech.html

             http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/castles/harlech%20castle.htm

Photos; http://www.alumni.caltech.edu/~leif/harlech.html

             http://www.castles-of-britain.com/castle18.htm

            http://www.freefoto.com/pictures/wales/castle/index.asp?i=9

Software:

Stronghold, PC Version; FireFly Studios: 2001

The Journeyman Project 2 - Buried in Time; PC Version; Sanctuary Woods Multimedia Inc: 1995

The Journeyman Project 3 - Legacy of Time; PC Version; Red Orb Entertainment: 1998