Symposium
New Paradigms for Accessing and Curating Audiovisual Collections
28-29 September 2023
In the present context of transformation, accessibility and curation of datafied content
requires rethinking to meaningfully unlock the sheer volume and complexity of large-scale
audiovisual collections. Standard interfaces often ignore the potential to explore
features like the visual, the auditory, and the haptic, which are not easily accessible
via traditional metadata. Investigating new modalities for audiovisual archives can be
facilitated via innovative curatorial access and informatics models that can activate new
frameworks of engagement, interaction, and meaning-making. While pushing the boundaries
for accessibility, the new interfaces, experiences, and curatorial models also raise
technological and conceptual questions about every aspect of archival practice, especially
with regards to preservation in this age of data.
Addressing these challenges, the symposium is stimulated by a growing need for collection
access models that go beyond traditional strategies, as well as by the need to
reconceptualize curatorial and presentation frameworks and models. It aims to explore the
intersection of cutting-edge computational methods and audiovisual archiving through three
themed sessions, each designed to cover a specific and unique angle:
A Blurry Boundary: From Archive to Data
A New Way of Seeing: Analytics and Curation
In Progress and Practice: An Institutional Zoom-in
Bringing together more than 20 world-leading scholars in various fields (such as media and
cultural studies, digital humanities, archival science, informatics and human-computer
interaction), archivists and curators from heritage institutions, as well as domain
experts and artists, this symposium will serve as a holistic venue to explore and
critically reflect on the affordances and limitations of cutting-edge computational
methods and tools for preserving, accessing and utilizing audiovisual materials and to
push forward a digital and data-driven mindset for the future of audiovisual
collections.
To access the full programme, including bios and abstracts, or to register, click here:
https://www.epfl.ch/labs/emplus/events/new-paradigms-audiovisual-2023/
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Visit the Pioneering Laboratory for Experimental Museology
During all three events
Each event invites participants to embark on a captivating journey through the
cutting-edge Laboratory for Experimental Museology (eM+), where immersive visualisation,
cultural data, and state-of-the-art technologies converge. Join our guided tour to explore
unique visualisation systems, powerful sonic architectures, and groundbreaking techniques
like motion capture and photogrammetry. Witness the transformation of tangible and
intangible heritage into stunning ultra-high-resolution experiences. This exclusive
opportunity unveils 20 years of research from pioneering laboratories in Sydney and Hong
Kong, offering a glimpse into the future of post-cinematic multisensory engagement. As a
part of the Sinergia Project: Narratives from the long tail, this guided tour will also
showcase the latest interactive and embodied exploration interfaces developed for our
content partners, such as the Eye Filmmuseum and the Radio Télévision Suisse.
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Special Film Screening
Film, the Living Record of Our Memory
28 September 2023, during the symposium
On the evening of September 28th, we will host a special screening of the recent
documentary Film, the Living Record of Our Memory.
Synopsis:
Why are we still able to watch moving images captured over 125 years ago?
As we move ever further into the digital age, our audiovisual heritage seems to be taken
increasingly for granted. However, much of our filmed history and cinema has already been
lost forever.
Film archivists, curators, technicians and filmmakers from around the world explain what
film preservation is and why it is needed. This documentary puts the focus on film
custodians who work behind the scenes to safeguard the survival of motion pictures. It is
a task they undertake based on their closely held belief in the artistic and cultural
value of the moving image, in tune with a shared mantra that a film might one day
transform someone’s life. This documentary is a homage to them all and sheds some light on
their critical undertaking.
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Online participation: streaming services will be provided for those who are unable to
attend the events in person. Please use the respective link to register as an online
participant, and details will be sent shortly before the event.
Should you have any questions or require further information regarding this symposium,
please feel free to reach out to our coordinator, Yuchen Yang, at yuchen.yang(a)epfl.ch
Best,
Narratives From the Long Tail Team