Abstract
Throughout history, everyday things have held hidden messages in order to help populations survive, resist, and thrive. This paper focuses on the textile arts and how they have been used to communicate in various cultures. I introduce textiles through the perspectives of material culture and thing theory, then discuss historical examples of cloth being used as a method of secret communication. The kanga cloth of East Africa, quilts in the colonial-era United States, and Aripilleras in Chile are considered through the lens of textiles as communication channels. I conclude that these historical narratives are essential to the development of strong, resilient communities pushing for social change.
Presenters
Kelsey LeibGraduate Student, Planning, Public Policy, and Management, University of Oregon, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
The Arts in Social, Political, and Community Life
KEYWORDS
Textiles, Code, Steganography, Communication, Community, Political
