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

Guest LectureGuest Lecture

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

Last Day: Last Day: Collecting & Collecting & Exhibiting Things: Theories of Exhibiting Things: Theories of Culture & MuseumsCulture & Museums Lecture (1Lecture (1stst part of class) part of class) Workshop in Computer Lab (on course Workshop in Computer Lab (on course

requirements & website creation)requirements & website creation)

Second Half of ClassSecond Half of Class

Discussion of Guest LectureDiscussion of Guest Lecture Overview of how today’s topic fits with the Overview of how today’s topic fits with the

themes in the coursethemes in the course Readings for Next DayReadings for Next Day Discussion of Short Report and some Discussion of Short Report and some

examples of possible case studies for short examples of possible case studies for short report report

Readings for Next Day:Readings for Next Day:

Overview of Overview of Issues in museological traditionsIssues in museological traditions– Selections from Pye, E. Selections from Pye, E. Caring for the Past. Issues in Caring for the Past. Issues in

conservation for archaeology and museums, London: conservation for archaeology and museums, London: James & James, pp./ 9-32, 57-72.James & James, pp./ 9-32, 57-72.

Example of Example of “new” approach to generating cultural “new” approach to generating cultural heritage interaction in connection with cultural heritage interaction in connection with cultural heritageheritage– Website visit: Website visit: http://http://mobilemuse.ca/projects/metrocodemobilemuse.ca/projects/metrocode

A vancouver-based initiative using mobile phones to A vancouver-based initiative using mobile phones to engage publicsengage publics

Focus of First three weeksFocus of First three weeks IntroductionIntroduction to some issues in the context of to some issues in the context of

traditions, mandates & codes of ethics developed traditions, mandates & codes of ethics developed in international circlesin international circles– Objects as symbolic & material cultureObjects as symbolic & material culture promoting promoting

intercultural communication, involving interdisciplinary intercultural communication, involving interdisciplinary collaborationcollaboration

– ‘‘Traditional’ Institutional MandatesTraditional’ Institutional Mandates: Older principles : Older principles irrelevant or impossible to apply to some forms of time-irrelevant or impossible to apply to some forms of time-based mediabased media

Examination of some of the challenges presented Examination of some of the challenges presented by time-based mediaby time-based media

Today: Other approaches to Today: Other approaches to digital & time-based mediadigital & time-based media

questions about how to “document” (or questions about how to “document” (or preserve) “records” and “works” preserve) “records” and “works”

Digital “works” vs. digitization (Two different Digital “works” vs. digitization (Two different perspectives, others later):perspectives, others later):– Preservation of time-based cultural “worksPreservation of time-based cultural “works” ”

(symbolic & “material” culture interplay): (symbolic & “material” culture interplay): museums, public art, monuments, etc…museums, public art, monuments, etc…

– Documentation & “texts” as records of cultureDocumentation & “texts” as records of culture: : Diplomatics, archival sciences, library science Diplomatics, archival sciences, library science traditionstraditions

Possible sources for case studiesPossible sources for case studies The International Research on Permanent Authentic The International Research on Permanent Authentic

Records in Electronic Systems (InterPARES) projectsRecords in Electronic Systems (InterPARES) projects::– Recall ReadingsRecall Readings– the description of the first and second projects the description of the first and second projects

http://www.interpares.org/http://www.interpares.org/,,– the description of the second project the description of the second project

http://www.interpares.org/ip2/ip2_index.cfhttp://www.interpares.org/ip2/ip2_index.cf– objectives and methodology objectives and methodology

http://www.interpares.org/ip2/ip2_objectives.cfm , http://www.interpares.org/ip2/ip2_objectives.cfm , http://www.interpares.org/ip2/ip2_methodological_principles.cfmhttp://www.interpares.org/ip2/ip2_methodological_principles.cfm

– summaries of case studies summaries of case studies http://www.interpares.org/ip2/ip2_case_studies.cfmhttp://www.interpares.org/ip2/ip2_case_studies.cfm

Another Possible Source: The Another Possible Source: The Variable Media Approach Variable Media Approach Source: Depocas, Alain, Kaitlin Jones and Jon Ippolito (2002) The Source: Depocas, Alain, Kaitlin Jones and Jon Ippolito (2002) The

Variable Media Approach. Permanence through Change. New York & Variable Media Approach. Permanence through Change. New York & Montreal: S. Guggenheim Museum & Daniel Langlois Foundation for Art, Montreal: S. Guggenheim Museum & Daniel Langlois Foundation for Art, Technology and Science. (Available on-line Technology and Science. (Available on-line http://www.variablemedia.net/pdf/Permanence.pdf)http://www.variablemedia.net/pdf/Permanence.pdf)

Readings:Readings:Sterling, Bruce. 2002 “Digital Decay” in Depocas et al. (Available on-line Sterling, Bruce. 2002 “Digital Decay” in Depocas et al. (Available on-line http://www.variablemedia.net/pdf/Permanence.pdf), pp.11-22.http://www.variablemedia.net/pdf/Permanence.pdf), pp.11-22.

Ippolito, J. 2002 “Accommodating the Unpredictable: The Variable Ippolito, J. 2002 “Accommodating the Unpredictable: The Variable Media Questionnaire” in Depocas et al. pp. 47-53Media Questionnaire” in Depocas et al. pp. 47-53

Stringari, Carol. 2002 “Beyond ‘Conservative’: The Conservator’s Role in Stringari, Carol. 2002 “Beyond ‘Conservative’: The Conservator’s Role in variable media Preservation”, in Depocas et al. pp. 55-59.variable media Preservation”, in Depocas et al. pp. 55-59.

Finding New Ways of thinking Finding New Ways of thinking about New Media…Discussion of about New Media…Discussion of “short reports”“short reports”

– Option 1:Option 1: Critical Analysis of Case Study done by one of Critical Analysis of Case Study done by one of initiatives (Variable Media Initiative, InterPARES2, initiatives (Variable Media Initiative, InterPARES2, INCCA….) INCCA….) (Handout 2)(Handout 2)

– Option 2:Option 2: New Case (something or practice that interests New Case (something or practice that interests you)you)

What? Why is it meaningful as expression of culture today? Why What? Why is it meaningful as expression of culture today? Why important for “future”?important for “future”?

Challenges for “traditional” conservation strategies?Challenges for “traditional” conservation strategies? Ideas for preservation? (What should/can be preserved? How? Ideas for preservation? (What should/can be preserved? How?

What will be saved? Lost? Who will preserve it? Institutional What will be saved? Lost? Who will preserve it? Institutional framework? framework?

NB. Refer to readings & issues raised in lecturesNB. Refer to readings & issues raised in lectures