Kirsty Owen - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Kirsty Owen

Research paper thumbnail of Iconographic representations of mortality and resurrection in 17th-century Gloucestershire

Research into the representation of death and resurrection on gravestones has given relatively li... more Research into the representation of death and resurrection on gravestones has given relatively little attention to the place of the death's head and cherub on English monuments in church and churchyard, with most enquiries focusing upon Scotland and New England. Gaps in the English evidence caused by decay and destruction have encouraged the imposition of a stylistic chronology established at a distance from the material under study. This paper considers the configuration of symbols of mortality and resurrection on the memorials of Gloucestershire. It seeks to uncover reasons for their use, interpreting each monument in terms of its individual design and positioning. It also challenges the established chronological progression from death's head to cherub and the presumption that images of mortality and resurrection were presented in deliberate contrast with each other.

Research paper thumbnail of Onely baits for sacrilege : good deaths and worthy remembrances in Gloucestershire, c.1350-1700

This thesis considers the definition of elite identity and its relationship to the constitution o... more This thesis considers the definition of elite identity and its relationship to the constitution of power structures through the manipulation of material culture. The following discussion will assess the nature of identity and how it is comprehended within contemporary archaeological theory. Thereafter the formation of medieval and early modem elite identities will be considered with reference to the manipulation of ideals of piety through the funerary material culture of Gloucestershire c.1350-1700. This study will consider how monuments that proposed a link between worldly wealth and divine favour might articulate elite selves in relation to each other and in opposition to those unaccustomed or unable to erect a monument to themselves or their kin. Funerary evidence will be analysed alongside the ideal of dying well as presented in the Ars Moriendi texts. It will be found that the ideological potential of 'dying well' was exploited to its fullest potential during the period under study. The idealised pious death provided the affluent with a focus for competition, the significance of which can only be fully comprehended if the texts are analysed alongside other forms of material culture

Research paper thumbnail of Social Intercession in Early Modern Gloucestershire

Research paper thumbnail of Iona Island and Abbey

Archaeological Journal, 2007

Research paper thumbnail of Identity, Commemoration and the Art of Dying Well: Exploring the Relationship between the Ars Moriendi Tradition and the Material Culture of Death in Gloucestershire, c.1350-1700A.D

Research paper thumbnail of Presenting an Archaeology for Everyone: Changing our approach to publicly funded archaeological investigation in Scotland

Internet Archaeology, 2019

We explore the idea of the 'public benefit' of archaeology and argue that our definition ... more We explore the idea of the 'public benefit' of archaeology and argue that our definition of what this means needs to be broadened, so that those that fund and consume archaeological information, and those that currently do not, can better understand the full breadth of its importance and significance. Archaeological information is relevant to, and in many cases actively contributes to, climate change, the promotion of diversity, the construction of sustainable communities and the appreciation and understanding of place. We will present and discuss some of the range of projects that are currently being supported through Historic Environment Scotland's Archaeology Programme, which is now focused on the delivery of Scotland's Archaeology Strategy. Many of these projects bring together professional archaeologists and members of the public, but how do we get a greater variety of people interested? It will be argued that one of the key roles of a national body is to bridge...

Research paper thumbnail of Dunstaffnage Castle

Archaeological Journal, 2007

Scotland, Ireland and Scandinavia shows that the rock surfaces themselves might only be part of t... more Scotland, Ireland and Scandinavia shows that the rock surfaces themselves might only be part of the site. We will never know for sure if our speculations are correct, but it is clear that these sites cannot be studied in isolation from monuments which may have been contemporary. In addition, designs appear on some of these monuments themselves, i.e. cup marks on standing stones and cist slabs. Stan Beckensall has discovered and mapped numerous sites in the glen and surrounding landscape, and recent field survey work undertaken by Kilmartin House Museum has detected several more sites, some of which are extensive.

Research paper thumbnail of Ardchattan Priory

Archaeological Journal, 2007

Research paper thumbnail of Carnassarie Castle

Archaeological Journal, 2007

Research paper thumbnail of The Reformed Elect: Wealth, Death, and Sanctity in Gloucestershire, 1550–1640

International Journal of Historical Archaeology, 2006

The cleansing of the parish space in the sixteenth century provided opportunities for the laity t... more The cleansing of the parish space in the sixteenth century provided opportunities for the laity to state the case for their own sanctity within the spaces formerly occupied by the didactic imagery of the Elect. Pietistic superiority in death, rendered in stone with reference to a popular ideal set forth in the Ars Moriendi elevated the moneyed over the living congregation. This paper compares the emphases of memorials in Gloucestershire, England, with that of selected Ars Moriendi texts in order to comprehend how wealthy patrons farmed themselves as a novel focus for popular adoration and what they hoped to achieve by doing so.

Research paper thumbnail of Iconographic representations of mortality and resurrection in 17th-century Gloucestershire

Research into the representation of death and resurrection on gravestones has given relatively li... more Research into the representation of death and resurrection on gravestones has given relatively little attention to the place of the death's head and cherub on English monuments in church and churchyard, with most enquiries focusing upon Scotland and New England. Gaps in the English evidence caused by decay and destruction have encouraged the imposition of a stylistic chronology established at a distance from the material under study. This paper considers the configuration of symbols of mortality and resurrection on the memorials of Gloucestershire. It seeks to uncover reasons for their use, interpreting each monument in terms of its individual design and positioning. It also challenges the established chronological progression from death's head to cherub and the presumption that images of mortality and resurrection were presented in deliberate contrast with each other.

Research paper thumbnail of Onely baits for sacrilege : good deaths and worthy remembrances in Gloucestershire, c.1350-1700

This thesis considers the definition of elite identity and its relationship to the constitution o... more This thesis considers the definition of elite identity and its relationship to the constitution of power structures through the manipulation of material culture. The following discussion will assess the nature of identity and how it is comprehended within contemporary archaeological theory. Thereafter the formation of medieval and early modem elite identities will be considered with reference to the manipulation of ideals of piety through the funerary material culture of Gloucestershire c.1350-1700. This study will consider how monuments that proposed a link between worldly wealth and divine favour might articulate elite selves in relation to each other and in opposition to those unaccustomed or unable to erect a monument to themselves or their kin. Funerary evidence will be analysed alongside the ideal of dying well as presented in the Ars Moriendi texts. It will be found that the ideological potential of 'dying well' was exploited to its fullest potential during the period under study. The idealised pious death provided the affluent with a focus for competition, the significance of which can only be fully comprehended if the texts are analysed alongside other forms of material culture

Research paper thumbnail of Social Intercession in Early Modern Gloucestershire

Research paper thumbnail of Iona Island and Abbey

Archaeological Journal, 2007

Research paper thumbnail of Identity, Commemoration and the Art of Dying Well: Exploring the Relationship between the Ars Moriendi Tradition and the Material Culture of Death in Gloucestershire, c.1350-1700A.D

Research paper thumbnail of Presenting an Archaeology for Everyone: Changing our approach to publicly funded archaeological investigation in Scotland

Internet Archaeology, 2019

We explore the idea of the 'public benefit' of archaeology and argue that our definition ... more We explore the idea of the 'public benefit' of archaeology and argue that our definition of what this means needs to be broadened, so that those that fund and consume archaeological information, and those that currently do not, can better understand the full breadth of its importance and significance. Archaeological information is relevant to, and in many cases actively contributes to, climate change, the promotion of diversity, the construction of sustainable communities and the appreciation and understanding of place. We will present and discuss some of the range of projects that are currently being supported through Historic Environment Scotland's Archaeology Programme, which is now focused on the delivery of Scotland's Archaeology Strategy. Many of these projects bring together professional archaeologists and members of the public, but how do we get a greater variety of people interested? It will be argued that one of the key roles of a national body is to bridge...

Research paper thumbnail of Dunstaffnage Castle

Archaeological Journal, 2007

Scotland, Ireland and Scandinavia shows that the rock surfaces themselves might only be part of t... more Scotland, Ireland and Scandinavia shows that the rock surfaces themselves might only be part of the site. We will never know for sure if our speculations are correct, but it is clear that these sites cannot be studied in isolation from monuments which may have been contemporary. In addition, designs appear on some of these monuments themselves, i.e. cup marks on standing stones and cist slabs. Stan Beckensall has discovered and mapped numerous sites in the glen and surrounding landscape, and recent field survey work undertaken by Kilmartin House Museum has detected several more sites, some of which are extensive.

Research paper thumbnail of Ardchattan Priory

Archaeological Journal, 2007

Research paper thumbnail of Carnassarie Castle

Archaeological Journal, 2007

Research paper thumbnail of The Reformed Elect: Wealth, Death, and Sanctity in Gloucestershire, 1550–1640

International Journal of Historical Archaeology, 2006

The cleansing of the parish space in the sixteenth century provided opportunities for the laity t... more The cleansing of the parish space in the sixteenth century provided opportunities for the laity to state the case for their own sanctity within the spaces formerly occupied by the didactic imagery of the Elect. Pietistic superiority in death, rendered in stone with reference to a popular ideal set forth in the Ars Moriendi elevated the moneyed over the living congregation. This paper compares the emphases of memorials in Gloucestershire, England, with that of selected Ars Moriendi texts in order to comprehend how wealthy patrons farmed themselves as a novel focus for popular adoration and what they hoped to achieve by doing so.