PhD thesis defence by Elisa Chazal
This doctoral research project examines the material culture of the standardised (re)reproduction of references to the past, through the study of European historical reconstructions. These ephemeral attractions were constructed within the grounds of national and universal exhibitions. Consisting of the reconstruction of medieval or modern cities, including their streets, squares, houses and monuments, they were inhabited by craftsmen and performers dressed in period costumes who sought to replicate the daily lives of past inhabitants through their leisure and professional activities. This thesis examines four late nineteenth-century historical reconstructions in Western and Central Europe: London, Vienna, Budapest and Paris.
The entrepreneurs designed their historical narrative around a national golden age, by incorporating historical figures, events and symbols that had already entered nineteenth century political, educational and recreational spheres. This thesis considers how the entrepreneurs and companies involved in historical reconstructions constructed, staged and reproduced the past through immersive experiences in order to convey their agenda to millions of visitors. The innovative nature of this research lies in its emphasis on material culture. Using a European comparative framework, I analyse how the material productions of fin-de-siècle cities reveal the processes of mass commodification of the past.
Moreover, material sources shed light on the compression of time and space between the exhibition grounds and everyday practices outside these ephemeral historical reconstructions. These reconstructions were characterised by a constant renewal of their entertainment and consumption offerings. The selected companies adopted mass production methods, combining processes of standardisation, reproducibility, and personalisation, and the latest techniques in advertisements. The past was experienced as a 'novelty' which made anachronism omnipresent. It was precisely the perception of the temporal gap that enabled the public to better understand and engage with the past, integrating it into their worldview and practices.