CL 7036 Visualising the Past

Module Organiser: Dr Hugh Denard
Duration: One Term (Sept-Dec)
Contact hours: 22 (1 x 2-hour seminar p.w.)
Weighting: 10 ECTS
Assessment: Written or part-written assignment

Overview

Overview This module will explore how computer-generated images, digital models, and virtual worlds are being used to change and augment both research questions, processes and publications in humanities disciplines – including archaeology, architectural history, classics, history and theatre studies – and the representation of the past in museums, games and screen media – from historical documentaries to Hollywood films.

Each week we will choose one specific subject area or sector, examining case studies to identify and understand their digital visualisation methods, and probing their economic, ethical, epistemological, methodological, professional, technical and wider social and cultural implications. We will use an international guideline – the London Charter for the Computer-based Visualisation of Cultural Heritage – as a framework for both planning and evaluating visualisation projects.

The module will include a number of practical labs, in which students will be introduced to freely-available visualisation tools.

This module is open to M.Phil. students in Digital Humanities and Culture, and Classics.

Aims

• to introduce participants to a range of digital visualisation methods and technologies deployed in the humanities and for cultural heritage
• to offer participants an understanding of key issues that arise when using digital visualisation in historical and cultural heritage contexts
• to enable participants to discover and critically to evaluate relevant visualisation initiatives
• to enable participants to develop robust methodologies for planning, carrying out and evaluating historical and cultural heritage visualisation activities

Working Methods

The module will be taught through weekly seminars, with a small number of site visits and practical labs.

Assessment

One 3,000-4,000 word essay or project (80%) and one class presentation (20%)

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

• understand a range of commonly-used visualisation technologies
• identify how and why digital visualisation is used to represent the past in humanities disciplines and the cultural heritage sector
• investigate the theoretical and practical implications of virtual heritage methods and outputs
• analyse and evaluate visualisation projects
• devise and plan a visualisation project in accordance with current best practice to address specific aims

Syllabus

Case studies and readings in areas including:

• Archaeology & Architectural History
• History
• Theatre Studies
• Museums and Virtual Museums
• Games and Screen Media
• Data Acquisition and 3D Modelling
• Virtual Worlds
• Documentation & the London Charter
• Project Planning & Management

No prior knowledge of digital visualisation tools or methods required.

Introductory Reading

• Bentkowska-Kafel, A; Baker, D; Denard, H. (eds) Paradata and Transparency in Historical Visualization (Ashgate, 2012)

Also:

• Anderson, D; Delve, J; Dobrerva, M; Baker, D; Billenness, C; Konstantelos, L. (eds) The Preservation of Complex Objects (Volume 1): Visualisations and Simulations. (University of Portsmouth, 2012)
• Bonnett, J. “Charting a New Aesthetics for History: 3D, Scenarios, and the Future of the Historian’s Craft” L’histoire sociale – Social History. 40(79): 169-208. May 2007.
• Cameron, F; Kenderdine, S. Theorizing Digital Cultural Heritage (Routledge, 2010)
• Castronova, E. Synthetic Worlds: The Business and Culture of Online Games (Chicago, 2006)
• Drucker, J. “Graphesis: Visual Knowledge Production and Representation”, Poetess Archive Journal 2.1 (20 December 2010)
• Forte, M. (ed.) Cyber-Archaeology BAR International Series 2177 (2010)
• Friendly, M. “A Brief History of Data Visualization”, in C. Chen and W. Härdle and A. Unwin (eds.) Handbook of Computational Statistics: Data Visualization (Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag, 2006)
• Greengrass, M; Hughes, L. The Virtual Representation of the Past (Ashgate, 2008)
• Guest, T. Second Lives: A Journey Through Virtual Worlds (Arrow, 2008)
• Ioannides, M; Fellner, D; Georgopoulos, A; Hadjimitsis, D.G (eds.) Digital Heritage Third International Conference, EuroMed 2010 (Springer, 2010)
• Jessop, M. “Digital Visualization as a Scholarly Activity” Literary and Linguistic Computing Vol. 23, Issue 3, pp.281-293.
• Lock, G. Using Computers in Archaeology: Towards Virtual Pasts (Routledge, 2003)
• Magruder, M.T. (ed) [Re]mediation_s 2000-2010 (Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery, 2012)
• Manovich, L. “What is visualisation?” Visual Studies, Vol.26, No.1, March 2011, pp.36-49.
• Molka-Danielsen, J; Deutschmann, M. Learning and Teaching in the Virtual World of Second Life (Tapir, 2009)
• Parry, R. (Ed.) Museums in a Digital Age (Routledge, 2009)
• Salter, C. Entangled: Technology and the Transformation of Performance (MIT, 2010)
• Staley, David J. “Images of The Rise of the West: Cognitive Art and Historical Representation” The Journal of The Historical Society VI:3 September 2006, 383-406.
• Vincenti, G; James Braman (eds) Multi-User Virtual Environments for the Classroom: Practical Approaches to Teaching in Virtual Worlds (IGI Global, 2011)