The semiotic remediation of hardtack biscuits during World War One

Datos Bibliográficos

ID2175929
AutoresLauren Alex O’hagan, Lauren O’hagan (0000-0001-5554-4492, Örebro University, autor de correspondencia)
Año2024
Volumen41
Número1
Páginas1-16
Fecha de publicación2024-05-07
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaVisual Studies (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1472-586X • E-ISSN: 1472-5878
EditorialInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/1472586x.2024.2347512
OpenAlexW4396689135
IdiomaEN
Referencias citadas46

This study offers the first detailed examination of the materiality of World War One hardtack biscuits - a dense biscuit made from flour, water and salt, which was a key component of ration packs for both Australian and British soldiers. It is specifically concerned with the types of repurposing - or acts of semiotic remediation - that take place, their broader sociocultural functions and the semiotic resources drawn upon to make meaning. Using a combination of multimodal analysis and archival research, it identifies five key acts of semiotic remediation by soldiers - declarations of ownership, letters, diary entries, photo frames and objets d’arts - which showcase hardtacks as unique, unmediated resources for understanding WW1 experiences. It also notes the frequent use of humour as a coping mechanism, as well as the important memorialisation function of hardtacks, acquiring symbolic values disproportionate to their everyday value for bereaved families. Hardtacks, thus, stand as a testimony to the resourcefulness of humans in trying circumstances, holding a wealth of knowledge on the aestheticisation of war that no living person possesses

Aesthetics · Art · Environmental remediation · Linguistics · Semiotics · Sociology · Visual arts · Anthropology: Ethics, History, Culture · Archaeological Research and Protection · History · Philosophy · Psychology