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Digital Project Proposal History of Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park _________________________________________________ |
Rationale for Digital Format
According to Edward Ayers, "the new technologies seem tailor-made for history, a match for the growing bulk and complexity of our ever more self-conscious practice, efficient vehicles to connect with larger and more diverse audiences." In addition, he argues, that digital media could help to create more complex narrative forms." (3)
The history of the park would be well suited for a digital format: The history of the park is complex, interwoven with the history of the neighborhood, the city, and the country. The park has been built, used and experienced from a multitude of people with many different perspectives. The web would make it easier than traditional media to tell the different and contradicting histories of the park - the history of the federal park and the local park, the park at night and during the day, the park experienced by adults and by children, by Whites in the 1940s and by African Americans in the 1950s and 1960s. One of the challenges would be not to pick up too many threads at once and confuse the visitor with too many narratives being told at the same time. A way of dealing with this problem could be the virtual tours, which could be led by different, but recognizable, historical people, for example via oral history clips or excerpts.
The spatial and encyclopedic nature of new media (Janet Murray) would make it possible to present the wealth of information available on the history of the park in a systematic way. The timeline, which is ideal for new media, could link to sites "outsides" with more background information on the park and its history. Another advantage of digital media is the possibility to combine sound, text and pictures and to update and change the information on the site and its exhibitions frequently.
A traditional exhibition, such as an exhibition with photos of the park that was organized by the "Friends" has the advantage of being next to the real park, where people could take tours. On the other hand, the digital format would make it possible from visitors from outside the city, who won't be able to come, to tour the park. The site is not intended to replace traditional media, but to complement it. A book would be still the best medium for a comprehensive history of the park, and would be the best medium for the essays. On the other hand, a book can't link to sites from the outside, such as sites of other parks, and can't collect histories via a questionnaire.
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