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
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.