Schwimmen

Historical sources prove that swimming is a universal cultural asset, a cultural technique that has been practised by people all over the world at all times. Nevertheless, the subject is still a stepchild of research. This volume brings together contributions on the history of bathing and swimming. It focuses in particular on tourism, recreation and leisure, the history of construction and architecture, modernisation, medialisation and the “sportification” of swimming, swimwear, nudity and gender-historical aspects, not least the significance of bathing for society, culture and the infrastructure of local communities. Some of the topics are genuinely uncharted territory, such as swimming pool construction during the Nazi era.

With contributions by
Jan-Hinnerk Antons | Dave Day | Bernadette Descharmes | Erik Eggers | Markwart Herzog | Christine Hieb | Michael Krüger | Matthias Oloew | Andreas Paatz | Alexander Priebe | Alexandra Regiert | Margaret Roberts | Olaf Stieglitz | Michael Thomas | Thomas Weikert