This week’s readings are addressing the way history is preserved in new media, specifically digital collections. Digital media is now another form of preserving and presenting history. The articles address the challenges and benefits of digital collections and history. There is an apparent argument for the importance of digital collections within archives. As well as understanding the way in which they are presented to users; as this presentation can change or alter initial use intentions. As this has been discussed, during our trips, the articles are concerned with the wave digital media has and will continue to take on in archival work.
Cohen discusses historical records and digital media (the future of preserving the past). He is pro digital collections when it comes to oral histories, as such as those from Pearl Harbor and 9/11. This proves very useful in collection personal memories that would other wise are lost with time. Cohen is more concerned with the quality, rather than quantity of the digital collection. He argues that because of the condition of most of the archival collections, we should be more concerned with digitizing the more recent or current collections.
Brennan and Kelly also discuss the future of historical records. Like Cohen, they discuss the collection of images and oral histories. They mainly focus on the process for creating digital collections. This process involving, collection content, technical issues, attracting visitors/contributors to the website/building user trust, and appropriate healing timing of those most affected (p. 4). They argue the importance of the process and including people/potential users during the process.
Brown discusses the history of multimedia and argues the affects (good and bad) it has had on various projects. His argument is mainly that the results of past digital media projects in archives should be used as examples and progression points to better assess evaluate and use multimedia. He is apparently not for digital media. This has been determined by his involvement in digital collection projects. He deemed that digital media decides what information a user can explore and access. In addition, the way the information is provided determines the outlook of the information, thus limiting users. For example, the arrangement of artifacts and images may adjust the user’s purpose for the information.
History and New media is about history being stored using digital collections. The problems as well as benefits are great and must be considered for each collection. Digital media is about access more than anything, so, as an information professional who is all about intellectually growing through accessing information…I’m all for the increase in knowledge. I think the real collection(s) should continue to be protected at its appropriate house.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Week 13: History & Hollywood
I have always had an interest in cinema that portrays historical events or specific time periods. This week’s readings definitely help to peak that interest. The many readings covered various ways in which cinema chooses to capture and present history. The question that is continuously ever present in the readings is one of whether or not historical cinema changes the viewer’s points of view about the historical events that are being portrayed.
This question may have been created and debated in the way the film is created. While, the producers are working mainly on creative license, they may need to more so consider the facts of the event and/or time period. Better yet, hire a historian for accuracy purposes. But, I even question that because if it goes against the producer’s and/or director’s vision, they may not want the facts. Thus, they will seek out a historian who feels or desires to convey a similar view point. The various authors argue that the viewer’s point of view does not change based on the cinema’s portrayal of an event or time period. Historical cinema has the power to possibly open dialogue about a time and get people to discuss a specific time period, as discussed in the Davis and Toplin readings. If this discussion happens, more than likely the viewers will not change their views of the presented historical events as made evident in this week’s readings.
I find this to be a valid argument because of the many historical films I have seen I have not allowed the sway my view point of the historical events portrayed. However, the view point portrayed has made me desire to do some digging and research. Nevertheless, everyone does not do this and most people take the film for truth because of trust in cinema.
This question may have been created and debated in the way the film is created. While, the producers are working mainly on creative license, they may need to more so consider the facts of the event and/or time period. Better yet, hire a historian for accuracy purposes. But, I even question that because if it goes against the producer’s and/or director’s vision, they may not want the facts. Thus, they will seek out a historian who feels or desires to convey a similar view point. The various authors argue that the viewer’s point of view does not change based on the cinema’s portrayal of an event or time period. Historical cinema has the power to possibly open dialogue about a time and get people to discuss a specific time period, as discussed in the Davis and Toplin readings. If this discussion happens, more than likely the viewers will not change their views of the presented historical events as made evident in this week’s readings.
I find this to be a valid argument because of the many historical films I have seen I have not allowed the sway my view point of the historical events portrayed. However, the view point portrayed has made me desire to do some digging and research. Nevertheless, everyone does not do this and most people take the film for truth because of trust in cinema.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Week 12: Creating Sources - Oral History
Oral history and public memories by Hamilton and Shopes (2008) address the topics of “oral history, memory, and the public” (p. vii). Oral history is a documented story of an individual concerning a specific topic and/or event in time. The authors utilize many researchers and historians to explore the historical question, which is solely focused on the social practice of oral history.
As discussed by the Hamilton and Shopes (2008), there are two core observations within the text. (1) Oral history is typically semi-private. Originally, it was rarely taken “out of the house” and now, primarily due to digitization, the practice has been taken “down the street” for others to enjoy and learn from. (2) Oral history is rarely a central practice in various professions such as history, anthropology, sociology, and cultural studies, even in recent scholarship where history and memory are inevitably entangled. This is demonstrated through the various stories concerning oral history and public memory told by researchers and historians.
The observations presented by the authors are surely valid. Though oral history has not been considered nor utilized as a central research practice, it definitely is and should be for fields involving cultural studies. Oral history is a social practice which connects the past and the present like any other form of history does. This practice is much more than a simple archival activity; it is a form of historical preservation…if you will. Otherwise, the history within the story of a specified time period would be lost. Think about any war, slavery, the Holocaust, any natural disaster, any era or time period in history. What if we did not know the stories of the people? What if no one thought to record the memories and thoughts of the primary resource? We as researchers would have lost out on many aspects of research. Overall, I found Oral history and public memories to be simply informative and supportive of the social practice of oral history.
Hamilton, P., & Shopes, L. (2008). Oral history and public memories. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University
Press.
As discussed by the Hamilton and Shopes (2008), there are two core observations within the text. (1) Oral history is typically semi-private. Originally, it was rarely taken “out of the house” and now, primarily due to digitization, the practice has been taken “down the street” for others to enjoy and learn from. (2) Oral history is rarely a central practice in various professions such as history, anthropology, sociology, and cultural studies, even in recent scholarship where history and memory are inevitably entangled. This is demonstrated through the various stories concerning oral history and public memory told by researchers and historians.
The observations presented by the authors are surely valid. Though oral history has not been considered nor utilized as a central research practice, it definitely is and should be for fields involving cultural studies. Oral history is a social practice which connects the past and the present like any other form of history does. This practice is much more than a simple archival activity; it is a form of historical preservation…if you will. Otherwise, the history within the story of a specified time period would be lost. Think about any war, slavery, the Holocaust, any natural disaster, any era or time period in history. What if we did not know the stories of the people? What if no one thought to record the memories and thoughts of the primary resource? We as researchers would have lost out on many aspects of research. Overall, I found Oral history and public memories to be simply informative and supportive of the social practice of oral history.
Hamilton, P., & Shopes, L. (2008). Oral history and public memories. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University
Press.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Week 10 - Preserving History : Archives
This week’s reading presents a discussion about archives. Burton utilizes multiple archival stories of historians for this discussion. The various stories discuss the creation, manipulation, and policies surrounding archives. In addition, some of the essays question what is an archive and history. What about forms of history that do not materialize, such as oral histories, fiction, planning for communities and buildings, and even cyberspace? The stories remind the reader archives are important for politics and society in order to tell a story about the past of an individual’s and/or collective communities.
Archives are especially important to researchers. However, some archives are not open to all researchers and/or the general public. However, in one of the essays Western research were granted access to the Central State Archive because of their wealth. This story shows the bias for access. Archives should be open with protection to all researchers for the simple sake of research and exploration of a history. This story particularly disturbed me because it goes back to times were you were considered wealthy if you had a home library.
The stories that could be and will be told based on the composition of archives makes an archive powerful. History typically provokes some type of emotion. For example, an African American in a slave or Civil Rights museum, a Jewish person in a Holocaust museum, and/or a woman in a Women’s evolution museum. My point is race and gender can affect the ways in which History or archives are viewed. Yet, these stories were not told. I assumed, because of the title the book, there would be a mixture of stories concerning archives from historians as well as those who experienced them (citizen stories). I think this would have made an impact on the book.
Overall, I found this book to be incomplete. I wanted more stories…stories from those researchers concerning the emotion they felt as the dug through the archives and discovered more information on their desired topic. As a research of African American history, I know that if history is not recorded in some fashion, it is lost. I am very appreciative of archives. I agree with various historians on the mere importance and vitality of archives. They do relate politics and society, which are always important whether it is national or local history. Information Professionals (librarians and historians) must seek to continue to maintain and create more archives for the use of various researchers as well as society.
Archives are especially important to researchers. However, some archives are not open to all researchers and/or the general public. However, in one of the essays Western research were granted access to the Central State Archive because of their wealth. This story shows the bias for access. Archives should be open with protection to all researchers for the simple sake of research and exploration of a history. This story particularly disturbed me because it goes back to times were you were considered wealthy if you had a home library.
The stories that could be and will be told based on the composition of archives makes an archive powerful. History typically provokes some type of emotion. For example, an African American in a slave or Civil Rights museum, a Jewish person in a Holocaust museum, and/or a woman in a Women’s evolution museum. My point is race and gender can affect the ways in which History or archives are viewed. Yet, these stories were not told. I assumed, because of the title the book, there would be a mixture of stories concerning archives from historians as well as those who experienced them (citizen stories). I think this would have made an impact on the book.
Overall, I found this book to be incomplete. I wanted more stories…stories from those researchers concerning the emotion they felt as the dug through the archives and discovered more information on their desired topic. As a research of African American history, I know that if history is not recorded in some fashion, it is lost. I am very appreciative of archives. I agree with various historians on the mere importance and vitality of archives. They do relate politics and society, which are always important whether it is national or local history. Information Professionals (librarians and historians) must seek to continue to maintain and create more archives for the use of various researchers as well as society.
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