Oceanic Archaeology's Historical Narratives: A Study of the Blue Humanities
The sea, a vast and mysterious expanse, has long been a source of inspiration and reflection for Western culture. As early as the eighteenth century, a small group of European aesthetes began to seek an experience of untamed nature, and found it in the sea.
Charles Dickens, among others, declared the sea as wholesome for both the body and the mind. For these landlubbers, the sea served as a mirror, reflecting their own condition back to them. The sea, with its unpredictable tides and vastness, was a reminder of the unknown and the uncontrollable, offering a stark contrast to the industrial age that was rapidly taking hold.
In the era of the industrial revolution, the sea first became a part of mainstream mainland culture. For some, like Joseph Conrad, the sea was the only viable alternative to the industrial age. For others, like Edmund Burke and Jules Verne, the sea offered a source of inspiration for their imagination.
The sea became a symbol of eternity, providing comfort to those who lost faith in divine dispensation of everlasting life. Dreams and nightmares were invested in seascapes, creating new myths such as the revival of the notion of Atlantis.
As the centuries passed, the sea continued to influence modern culture and society. A shift in attention from land to sea is underway in several fields, including archaeology, anthropology, maritime history, and marine biology. Studies of ocean currents, tides, and waves are becoming more common.
The emergence of the "blue humanities" is a belated recognition of the close relationship between modern Western culture and the sea. The historicization of the oceans is one of the most striking trends in this field. Dr. John R. Gillis, Professor Emeritus of History at Rutgers University, is at the forefront of this movement.
In America, a coastal, sea-consciousness culture with a developing literary tradition anchored in romantic impulses developed. The sea is often an iconic seascape or photograph that lures people to a particular shore. It is a place of spiritual and physical recreation, and a fountain of images and metaphors that have influenced Western culture.
However, the ocean remains largely unexplored. With more known about the dark side of the moon than about the depths of the oceans, there is still much to discover and understand. The manner in which the sea influences modern culture and society is only just beginning to be understood, and the "blue humanities" are at the forefront of this exciting exploration.
