INSTITUTIONS OF
HISTORY AND WAR
Comm 2401

TODAY’S CLASS
! Guest
!

lecture by Dr. Anthony Michel

The Canadian Museum of History

! Discussion
!

of the visit to the National Gallery

Applied framework

! The

Canadian War Museum
! About the mid-term exam

THE NATIONAL GALLERY
! General
!
!
!

Observations

The Gallery
The Voice of Fire
Canadian Exhibit

GEORGE REID – AVE CANADA

MARCEL BARBEAU – NATASHKOUAN 1956

ALEX JANVIER - UNTITLED 1935

JEAN PAUL RIOPELLE – PAVANE - 1954

APPLYING THE FRAMEWORK
! Assumptions
! Model

for Cultural Affirmation
! Institutional Themes and Sub-Themes
! The Encoding Decoding Model

OUR ASSUMPTIONS CONT’D
Canadian Culture is…

Canadian Art is…

An Institution is…

Identified by our success
(hockey)

A reaction to outside threats and pressures

Established organization

Identified by what we are not (Not American)

Not as good as (US) content (Boring, sucks)

Determined by an organizing principle
(hierarchy)

Identified by food + Statedetermined symbol of
Canada (Beaver Tails;
Moose)

Nature-based and defined by success + Statedetermined representation
(Group of Seven)

Targeted (particular segment of society)

Identified by a shared values (peace; Degrassi)

Success in the US (Celine
Dion)

Represented by a National
Cultural Institution (CBC)

Place (scenery)

Identified by food + hockey legend (see top) – (Tim
Hortons)

APPLYING THE FRAMEWORK
! Assumptions
! Model

for Cultural Affirmation
! Institutional Themes and Sub-Themes
! The Encoding Decoding Model

SAMPLE EXAM QUESTION
! How

do the works on display in the Canadian exhibit at the National Gallery of Canada contribute to the national narrative?

CANADIAN WAR MUSEUM

CANADIAN WAR MUSEUM
! Opened

in 2005 – Most important element in recent institutionalization of Canadian military history as part of Canadian Identity.
! Glorify victory but also acknowledge the human cost. ! Mandate: Educate. Preserve. Remember.
! By educating present and future generations on
Canada’s military heritage, preserving historical artifacts, and encouraging Canadians to reflect on past sacrifices.

CANADIAN WAR MUSEUM CONT’D
! Origins

to 1880 – collection of militia artifacts.
! 2001 announcement for support of construction of a new Canadian War Museum
! Opening in May 2005
!
!

60th Anniversary of the end of WWII in Europe
125th Anniversary of the Canadian War Museum itself. ARCHITECTURE
! Theme
!
!

of ‘Regeneration’

Impact of war on the land
Nature’s ability to regenerate and accommodate the physical devastation wrought by human conflict.

! Reflected
!
!
!

in use of construction materials

River water in cooling system
Native grasses on green roof
Recycled copper