“Sensuous Geographies” in the “Age of Steel”: Educating Future Workers’ Bodies in Time and Space (1900-1940)

Karin Priem and Frederik Herman University of Luxembourg Institute of Education and Society

ISCHE 2016 - Chicago Education and the BodyFabricating Modern SocietiesFriday August 19 10:30am-12:00pm

Fig. 1: Cast-iron engine cylinder housing on a marking plate (Renger-Patzsch, 1930, fig. 67)

Introduction: Intimacy in the “Age of Steel”

/ ISCHE 2016 / K. Priem & F. Herman / “Sensuous Geographies” in the “Age of Steel” /

L’Institut Emile Metz

Fig. 2: L’Institut Emile Metz - Lycée Technique Privé Emile Metz (1913-2016) © Institut Emile Metz /CNA Fig. 3: Blast-furnace workers at Dommeldange iron-ore smashers © Institut Emile Metz /CNA Fig. 4: Psychophysiological laboratory © Institut Emile Metz /CNA

/ ISCHE 2016 / K. Priem & F. Herman / “Sensuous Geographies” in the “Age of Steel” /

Fig. 5: Classroom © Institut Emile Metz /CNA Fig. 6: Gym © Institut Emile Metz /CNA Fig. 7: Psychophysiological laboratory © Institut Emile Metz /CNA Fig. 8: Workshops © Institut Emile Metz /CNA

Hands and Brains: The Rational Organization of Vocational Training

/ ISCHE 2016 / K. Priem & F. Herman / “Sensuous Geographies” in the “Age of Steel” /

Progressive Testing of the Senses: Fabricating Sensuous Geographies

Three types of tests

1. individual senses (aptitudes psycho-physiologiques)

2. perceptual system of the body and coordination of the senses

3. job-specific locomotion (aptitudes professionnelles)

The testing and training of the different sense organs in the laboratory and workshops followed a progressive structure and aimed at a meticulously designed and interconnected map of entangled sensations and perceptions.

Examples

1. Seeing, Hearing and Touching

2. The Hand and the Eye

3. Hammering and Filing

/ ISCHE 2016 / K. Priem & F. Herman / “Sensuous Geographies” in the “Age of Steel” /

Fig. 9: Perforating test in the laboratory © Institut Emile Metz /CNA Fig. 10: Recording devices and test results of the perforating test © Institut Emile Metz /CNA Fig. 11: Coordination test with a two-hand coordinator and a given track in the background © Institut Emile Metz /CNA

The Hand and the Eye

/ ISCHE 2016 / K. Priem & F. Herman / “Sensuous Geographies” in the “Age of Steel” /

Fig. 12: Hammering test (Robert, La psychologie appliquée au service de la formation professionnelle et du Travail, 72) Fig. 13: Test results for twelve apprentices, displaying two series of strikes for each apprentice (from right to left)(Robert, La psychologie appliquée au service de la formation professionnelle et du Travail, 72)

Occupational Skill: Hammering

/ ISCHE 2016 / K. Priem & F. Herman / “Sensuous Geographies” in the “Age of Steel” /

Fig. 14: Perforating test in the laboratory (Robert, La psychologie appliquée, 70) Fig. 15: Filing test in the institute’s laboratory © Institut Emile Metz /CNA Fig. 16: Filing training in the institute’s laboratory © Institut Emile Metz /CNA Fig. 17: Filing in the institute’s workshops © Institut Emile Metz /CNA

Occupational Skill: Filing

/ ISCHE 2016 / K. Priem & F. Herman / “Sensuous Geographies” in the “Age of Steel” /

Fig. 18: Cover image of Revue Technique Luxembourgeoise 29, no. 6 (1937)

Intimacy and Belonging: The Skilled Worker in the “Age of Steel”

/ ISCHE 2016 / K. Priem & F. Herman / “Sensuous Geographies” in the “Age of Steel” /

Fig. 19: Worker sitting on a part of a hydraulic turbine © Institut Emile Metz /CNA Fig. 20: Workers touching machines © Institut Emile Metz /CNA

Intimacy and Belonging: The Skilled Worker in the “Age of Steel”

/ ISCHE 2016 / K. Priem & F. Herman / “Sensuous Geographies” in the “Age of Steel” /