Anthropocene Histories seminar: Histories of Heating

About the seminar:
Speakers for this seminar include Christopher Courtney (Durham) and Abigail Harrison Moore (Leeds).

The history of heating is tied to the emergence of the Anthropocene in intimate ways. From chopping wood, to placing coals under the fireplace, to switching on a gas boiler, heating relies on natural resources and shapes our understanding of the immediate environment. How might history help us understand the material and social significance of heat? In what ways do these histories connect with domestic structures, gender, and patterns of consumption? How can an attention to the everyday help inform our understanding of the global implications of the Anthropocene?

To discuss these issues, Dr. Christopher Courtney (Durham) and Dr. Abigail Harrisson (Leeds) will present work from their own research on humidity and health in China and heating and women’s experiences in Victorian Britain, respectively, as part of a conversation with Dr. Ling Zhang (Cambridge).

The seminar will take place on zoom with the link to join to be shared closer to the time.