Thanks for the feedback Z. This part was particularly interesting, as we
discussed it with some interns we had at the Smithsonian:
#4 Is total reliance on (academic) text and (standard) language already a
media bottleneck?
I think this is a long-term problem we have, and we still haven't done well
to discuss the roles of oral histories or non-traditional forms of
knowledge.
-Andrew
On Wed, Jul 13, 2022 at 4:25 AM Željko Blaće <zblace(a)mi2.hr> wrote:
On Tuesday, July 12, 2022, Andrew Lih
<andrew.lih(a)gmail.com> wrote:
Hi all, this is a request for your insights and
wisdom. And for some fun
and interesting conversation.
Nice title ;-)
It is the topic I am starting to prepare for as we plan a round table in
Autumn locally here.
Croatian Wikipedia *(and others) was terrible at it *(now slightly better,
but far from resolved).
I'll be giving a talk next week at the
Chautauqua Lecture Series,
addressing the "Future of History" to an audience of ordinary folks. (In
the US, Chautauqua is a famous intellectual summer camp for lifelong
learners).
Great. Please record if it is an option.
So my request to you: In what ways is the
Wikimedia movement addressing
the challenge of crafting the future of history? I'd love to quote some
insights from WREN to a larger audience.
Do you also include negative examples? ;-p
The full description of the topic is below.
Thanks!
-Andrew
https://www.chq.org/schedule/events/weekly-themes/
The Future of History
We live our lives swimming in a vast sea of information; what will wash
up on the future’s shores and be deemed our history? When data is stored in
the cloud rather than compiled in physical files, when we send emails and
tweets rather than letters, how do the records of today become primary
sources tomorrow? There are more ways to record history than ever before,
but how can those records live in a useful way for the historians of the
future — or, with everyone having the technology, and thus the capability,
to be their own historian, their own librarian, will a need to study
history as a formal vocation even exist? Beyond the logistics of such
questions, broader issues are at play: Who are the gatekeepers of our
stories, and who do we trust to be stewards of our lives and memories?
All great opening questions.
So much of minor and under-represented histories exist in parallel and
have their own subjects with needs and urgencies.
Just filling in endless gaps feels like unsustainable and 'inclusivity'
compromise/compensation focused for the well centered and resourced
'official' history.
My input would be in questions:
#1 Can we still talk about (singular) history and its missing or
under-developed content?
#2 How can we address histories as professionals in education and culture,
as engaged citizens?
#3 What kind of critical actions are possible and plausible in short and
what in the medium term?
*(hopefully to amend and advance the work of professional historians,
avoiding mere compensating)
#4 Is total reliance on (academic) text and (standard) language already a
media bottleneck?
#5 Can multi-lingual and language 'neutral' projects start a global new
trend without deleting context?
Best Z.
_______________________________________________
Wren mailing list -- wren(a)lists.wikimedia.org
To unsubscribe send an email to wren-leave(a)lists.wikimedia.org
--
-Andrew Lih
Author of The Wikipedia Revolution
US National Archives Citizen Archivist of the Year (2016)
Knight Foundation grant recipient - Wikipedia Space (2015)
Wikimedia DC - Outreach and GLAM
Previously: professor of journalism and communications, American
University, Columbia University, USC
---
Email: andrew(a)andrewlih.com
WEB: