| The problem investigated is the phenomenon of embroidery in Jordan as a cultural tradition which is still being practiced today. The issue is that Jordanian embroidery has not been fully documented nor has it been treated in its cultural context. The tradition as a living expression of the culture is at present being threatened by inroads into the culture by modernism which does not value traditional crafts highly enough to actively encourage them and by the technology of machine work. The purpose of the dissertation was thus to describe the aesthetic qualities of the embroidery according to region, treating specifically the work done at Bethlehem and Ramallah on the West Bank and on the East Bank in the northern region of Ajlun and the central area of Salt; to look at the embroidery in its cultural context in relation to history and religion, to see where its roots lie, and to stimulate interest in a scholarly approach to the subject.;The results of the investigation revealed a highly individualized aesthetic in the different areas of Jordan, with a more highly evolved technique in towns and villages with more historical continuity and strong family ties. The marriage customs and expectations of individual families in these communities place a high value on the richly-embroidered garments which are prepared for the marriage, and are worn during the celebrations as well as during the marriage as an emblem of the highly regarded married state.;The conclusions of the study were that the established regional characteristics, although being preserved by collectors, are breaking down through modern influences such as increased communication between towns, which is fostering an atmosphere where embroideresses are working outside of the traditional cultural framework of learning the craft from their mothers and neighbors. This breakdown is making the scholarly documentation of the living traditions which still exist in some quarters all the more valuable and more important to pursue.;The procedures used were both a review of the literature on the embroidery and on the cultural atmosphere in which it is created. Visiting with and talking to embroideresses, particularly in the northern area of the East Bank, was also part of the work done for the dissertation. |
