Embodiments of Human Identity: Detecting and Interpreting Hidden Narratives in Twentieth-Century Design History

Abstract

The article argues that the practice and influence of design history can benefit from new forms of visual and chronological analysis. To this end, a unique phenomenon, the "historical visual narrative," is identified and discussed. Special instances of this phenomenon in twentieth-century design and visual culture, which are tied to the theme of the embodiment of human identity, are examined in depth.