REVERENCE FOR A FALSE HISTORY
Alexandria Nunweiler
Photos by Baby Viking Photography
Currently in development, Reverence for a False History: The Skeleton in Armor is a discovery that comes to life.
Blending history and poetry with dance, the project unearths the real and false histories of events, discoveries and reports in New England - specific to the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem ‘The Skeleton in Armor’ and the real skeleton in armor found buried in a seated position in Fall River, MA in 1831. Speculation swirled and surrounded this discovery as historians questioned who the person was, how they lived, and where they originated. Today we ask what this discovery can tell us about how we preserve ideas, traditions, and historical perspectives.
As this is a lesser known Longfellow poem and historical discovery, this project seeks to aid new conversations and bring to light more of the intricacies of Massachusetts history, uplifting the voices of those who are often “othered”. It will allow audiences to reflect on their own thinking and possibly peel away their own views of those who came before us. More deeply, this project asks of its creators and viewers: How do we view historical discoveries made in Massachusetts? How are art pieces and writings used to shape our present day view of the past? What is intentionally or accidentally being left out or rewritten in our history?
The project manifests in three parts:
Blending history and poetry with dance, the project unearths the real and false histories of events, discoveries and reports in New England - specific to the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem ‘The Skeleton in Armor’ and the real skeleton in armor found buried in a seated position in Fall River, MA in 1831. Speculation swirled and surrounded this discovery as historians questioned who the person was, how they lived, and where they originated. Today we ask what this discovery can tell us about how we preserve ideas, traditions, and historical perspectives.
As this is a lesser known Longfellow poem and historical discovery, this project seeks to aid new conversations and bring to light more of the intricacies of Massachusetts history, uplifting the voices of those who are often “othered”. It will allow audiences to reflect on their own thinking and possibly peel away their own views of those who came before us. More deeply, this project asks of its creators and viewers: How do we view historical discoveries made in Massachusetts? How are art pieces and writings used to shape our present day view of the past? What is intentionally or accidentally being left out or rewritten in our history?
The project manifests in three parts:
- Duet performance (20 minutes). Choreographed by Alexandria Nunweiler in collaboration with Angelina Benitez and Katrina Conte.
- Lecture demonstration (60 minutes). Featuring the duet performance, a presentation of sources, and how historical sources are turning into movement.
- Experiential workshop (60-90 minutes). For dancers and non-dancers, this workshop invites participants to engage with the creative practices used to create the duet performance.