HISTORIES, IMAGES AND EUROPEANS
I am currently doing research on representations of Europe. My project on Histories, Images and Europeans deals with definitions and representations of Europe and uses of history in the making of identities.
I am looking the ideas of Europeanness from above, below and sideways. I deal with the use of history/past on all its levels: from individual belonging to supranational identity building.
Go and check publications for more information.
CRAIOVA, ROMANIA, H-R KAVASTO, 2008
FREETOWN OF CHRISTIANIA, DENMARK, K-R KOSKINEN, 2009
EUROSIGNS:
Branding EUro(pe) from above, below and sideways
The Eurosigns photo project analyses the individual meanings and the overall impact of Europe/European Union related representations. Eurosigns are business signs, advertisements, logos, hoardings, window displays and such that make use of institutional symbols of the European Union. The focus is on how SMEs link the idea of Europe either verbally or visually to their marketing.
A eurosign may include a modification of the blue flag of European union with its twelve golden stars (the eurostars), the map of Europe with EU member states highlighted, the attribute "eur(o)" or the letter €, or some other visual element endorsed by the EU. Some pictures have also been collected to give a backdrop to eurobranding.
The project uses photographs by myself and a multinational group of over 60 volunteer eurosignspotters to dissect the concept of Europe. Eurosignspotters have used mobile phones as well as cameras; cars, trains, and even planes have been used to catch the subject. The work goes on!
The methodology of my study draws on histories from below, urban studies and the ethnographic tradition. I would call my approach modern urban archaeology, too, because it characterises the interdisciplinary nature of my attempt to put together a mosaic of urban values. This approach addresses questions about how people fashion their environments to create meanings about who and where they are in the world, and how, in the process, they communicate feelings of belonging and attachment.
1. EUROSIGNS AROUND THE WORLD
Go here to see a selection of photos taken by the international and interdisciplinary team of voluntary eurosignspotters.
DAS EURO CAFE, WEIMAR
© OITTINEN, 2006
EU-SHAMPOO, EUROPE HOTEL, DAMASCUS
© OITTINEN 2009
2. THE CASE OF BRUSSELS
The Brussels' eurosigns are a case of their own. Due to the their large amount (around 500 pictures), they are not presented here at the moment, but they are available as a slide show.
Go to Eurosigns in Brussels to see a small sample of the photos.
The Project has been presented at
- Mediacity Conference Media and Urban Space, Bauhaus University, Weimar (2006)
- Conference Heritage (Ideology, Politics, Culture). European Science Foundation. Ljubljana, Slovenia (2006).
- Eurodiversity 4 Conference Diversity in Cities; Visible and Invisible Walls, UCL, London (2007)
- ECREA Conference Equal Opportunities and Communication Rights, Brussels (2007)
- Conference Meeting the Other, University of Helsinki (2008)
- Inaugural Conference of the International Society for Cultural History, University of Ghent (2008)
- Glocal Imaginaries. Lancaster University and Whitworth Gallery (2009)
For an extensive discussion, see my article In Hoc Signo Vinces. Eurosigns in the City Scenery of Brussels. In Frank Eckard (ed.) Media and Urban Space, 201-231, 2008. Also available through Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, Working Papers Series Online, dowload PDF-file number 54.07.
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This work is licenced under
a Creative Commons
Attribution-Noncommericial,
No Derivative Works 3.0 Licence
With the kind support of
Finnish Academy of Science
and Letters - Emil Öhman
Foudantion; Finnish-Swedish
Culture Foundation; Finnish
Association of Science Editors
and Journalists & The Finnish
Assiciation in Belgium
(Suomi-Klubi a.s.b.l)
Page updated 17.10.2009
Project started 2003