Depths and Surfaces: Understanding the Antarctic Region through the Humanities and Social Sciences

This special issue of The Polar Journal showcases six papers from the “Depths and Surfaces” Antarctic humanities and social sciences conference, held in Hobart from 5 -7 July 2017. The introduction argues that while the physical continent of Antarctica is beyond the reach of most, the images and narratives that circulate in cultural discourse offer ways to experience the place from afar. Four general submissions are also included in the issue, three of which offer examinations of the far north context. First, this introduction traces the growth of Antarctic humanities and social sciences, both within the context of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), and in relation to the International Polar Year (IPY). Background information on the formation of the SCAR History Expert Group (HEG) and Humanities and Social Sciences Expert Group (HASSEG) provides context for the “Depths and Surfaces” conference, and sets the scene for discussions on the role of humanities in wider polar research projects. The authors argue that by integrating the likes of philosophers, anthropologists, historians and literary critics into larger research projects at the outset, and inviting them to shape the directions of research alongside their scientific counterparts, both the processes and products of research are enriched. The question of Antarctica's accessibility for artists and non-scientific researchers is considered, before each of the essays that make up the special issue is introduced. Taken together, the articles collated in this edition expand our knowledge of the polar regions and human engagement with these areas in exciting ways, and invite the reader to delve deeper into a range of disciplines. When it comes to polar humanities and social science research, there are still many depths to explore.