Week 3: Visual Images & Text as Cultural Heritage: New Approaches to Documentation & Conservation

Guest Lecture Jessica Bushey, Digital Imaging Head, Museum of Anthropology, UBC “She Shoots She Stores: Born Digital Images as Reliable and Authentic Records.” (Note Ms. Bushey conducted some of this research in the context of the InterPARES2 project. See required readings.) Jessica Bushey, Digital Imaging Head, Museum of Anthropology, UBC “She Shoots She Stores: Born Digital Images as Reliable and Authentic Records.” (Note Ms. Bushey conducted some of this research in the context of the InterPARES2 project. See required readings.)

Last Day: Collecting & Exhibiting Things: Theories of Culture & Museums Lecture (1 st part of class) Lecture (1 st part of class) Workshop in Computer Lab (on course requirements & website creation) Workshop in Computer Lab (on course requirements & website creation)

Second Half of Class Discussion of Guest Lecture Discussion of Guest Lecture Overview of how today’s topic fits with the themes in the course Overview of how today’s topic fits with the themes in the course Readings for Next Day Readings for Next Day Discussion of Short Report and some examples of possible case studies for short report Discussion of Short Report and some examples of possible case studies for short report

Readings for Next Day: Overview of Issues in museological traditions Overview of Issues in museological traditions –Selections from Pye, E. Caring for the Past. Issues in conservation for archaeology and museums, London: James & James, pp./ 9-32, Example of “new” approach to generating cultural heritage interaction in connection with cultural heritage Example of “new” approach to generating cultural heritage interaction in connection with cultural heritage –Website visit: A vancouver-based initiative using mobile phones to engage publics

Focus of First three weeks Introduction to some issues in the context of traditions, mandates & codes of ethics developed in international circles Introduction to some issues in the context of traditions, mandates & codes of ethics developed in international circles –Objects as symbolic & material culture promoting intercultural communication, involving interdisciplinary collaboration –‘Traditional’ Institutional Mandates: Older principles irrelevant or impossible to apply to some forms of time-based media Examination of some of the challenges presented by time-based media Examination of some of the challenges presented by time-based media

Today: Other approaches to digital & time-based media questions about how to “document” (or preserve) “records” and “works” questions about how to “document” (or preserve) “records” and “works” Digital “works” vs. digitization (Two different perspectives, others later): Digital “works” vs. digitization (Two different perspectives, others later): –Preservation of time-based cultural “works” (symbolic & “material” culture interplay): museums, public art, monuments, etc… –Documentation & “texts” as records of culture: Diplomatics, archival sciences, library science traditions

Possible sources for case studies The International Research on Permanent Authentic Records in Electronic Systems (InterPARES) projects : The International Research on Permanent Authentic Records in Electronic Systems (InterPARES) projects : –Recall Readings –the description of the first and second projects –the description of the second project –objectives and methodology –summaries of case studies

Another Possible Source: The Variable Media Approach Source: Depocas, Alain, Kaitlin Jones and Jon Ippolito (2002) The Variable Media Approach. Permanence through Change. New York & Montreal: S. Guggenheim Museum & Daniel Langlois Foundation for Art, Technology and Science. (Available on-line Readings: Sterling, Bruce “Digital Decay” in Depocas et al. (Available on-line pp Ippolito, J “Accommodating the Unpredictable: The Variable Media Questionnaire” in Depocas et al. pp Stringari, Carol “Beyond ‘Conservative’: The Conservator’s Role in variable media Preservation”, in Depocas et al. pp Source: Depocas, Alain, Kaitlin Jones and Jon Ippolito (2002) The Variable Media Approach. Permanence through Change. New York & Montreal: S. Guggenheim Museum & Daniel Langlois Foundation for Art, Technology and Science. (Available on-line Readings: Sterling, Bruce “Digital Decay” in Depocas et al. (Available on-line pp Ippolito, J “Accommodating the Unpredictable: The Variable Media Questionnaire” in Depocas et al. pp Stringari, Carol “Beyond ‘Conservative’: The Conservator’s Role in variable media Preservation”, in Depocas et al. pp

Finding New Ways of thinking about New Media…Discussion of “short reports” –Option 1: Critical Analysis of Case Study done by one of initiatives (Variable Media Initiative, InterPARES2, INCCA….) (Handout 2) (Handout 2)(Handout 2) –Option 2: New Case (something or practice that interests you) What? Why is it meaningful as expression of culture today? Why important for “future”? What? Why is it meaningful as expression of culture today? Why important for “future”? Challenges for “traditional” conservation strategies? Challenges for “traditional” conservation strategies? Ideas for preservation? (What should/can be preserved? How? What will be saved? Lost? Who will preserve it? Institutional framework? Ideas for preservation? (What should/can be preserved? How? What will be saved? Lost? Who will preserve it? Institutional framework? NB. Refer to readings & issues raised in lectures NB. Refer to readings & issues raised in lectures