Reasons of my choice
Firstly, I’m very interested in maritime history. During my
studies, I have been working on a Master's thesis on the particularities of
"la course” (the french word for privateering) during the French
Revolution and the Napoleonic Empire and I studied the consequences of the
naval wars for the populations of the littoral spaces.
On the other hand, I am mindeful by heritage issues and
environmental concerns because they are part of my daily life. I was born in
Calais a port city situated in the Channel where I still live.
The French considered “la course,” their word for
privateering, a family business where sons followed in their fathers’
footsteps.
Definition
Maritime heritage preserves and protects cultural valuable material or immaterial resources which were produced in coastal, port and maritime environments…
Since the 1950s the notion of cultural heritage has been extended in particular categories such as rural, industrial or maritime heritage…
These patrimonial themes result from complex and unstable interactions between scientific knowledge, preservation to transmit quest of memory, assertion of local or professional identity. Sometimes they become supports of bound values in sociability, environment, and quality of life …
So, maritime heritage appeared more recently, in the early 1980s but with more or less precocity and vigour according to the regional contexts.
Problems
What are useful archives for the knowledge of the maritime history?
How is the protection of maritime heritage organized in the world? What is the legal framework?
How maritime heritage is valorised ?
What debates? How do people perceive events associated with maritime heritage?
Blog project
I would like to study examples of monuments and harbor facilities which have an historical value and impact on the maritime landscape, such as fortifications, docks, cranes or lighthouses. But also archeological sites, in particular shipwrecks.
Secondly, I will choose to explain historical or cultural subjects, for example origin of sea legends, traditional parties, festivals...
I will evoke the different actors that protect maritime heritage and organize some events. I will present some organizations dedicated to maritime heritage : museums, archives services, associations or privates foundations.
