An introduction to the Making Europe Virtual Exhibit Project

1. Virtual Exhibit
Alec Badenoch, 29 October 2010

2. The Project:
A transnational history
of Europe with
technology as central
focus
www.tensionsofeurope.eu
6 Volumes
Europe in the Global World
From Nature to Networks: the
Infrastructural Transformation of
Europe
European Technological Dramas:
Histories of Consumption and Use
Eventing Europe: Electronic
Information and Communication
Spaces in Europe
Knowledge Societies, Expert
Networks and Innovation Cultures
in Europe
Governing Europe: Technology,
Experts and Networks

3. 'National' technologies
tell transnational
stories...

4. Our goal: stimulating use
of digital cultural heritage
• utilize available online resources (and
provide stimulus for more...)
• provide rich narrative environments for
exploration and engagement
• generate interpretive dialogue with experts
• create links to and between collections
and institutions

5. Virtual Exhibit: the concept
• 'Static' component: web-based object-
driven exhibit compiled by scholars
drawing on collections
• Dynamic component: gather selected
related content directly from online
collections
• Further user interactivity: multiple views
(including maps); save trajectories or light
table images; tag and share; chat/discuss

9. Making Europe: principles
• European stories are those that question
borders, show movements, explore tensions;
• Objects are shown as having multiple meanings
and contexts within and beyond the exhibit;
• Expert-led and user-led stories are brought into
dialogue with each other;
• Stories and environments provide conceptual
tools for contextualization, further exploration
and study

10. …plus ‘dynamic’
content…
‘static’
narratives…
Zones of exploration (in tension)
…plus the web: sharing, tagging, re-use
…Plus
partner
collections…

11. 6 exhibits, 6 stories each…

12. From text led stories...

13. London to Bombay by Road
....to object led stories

14. In the early years of motoring, automobiles were extremely costly, and almost
entirely for leisure. Long-distance touring and racing were their main uses.
In 1933, the Alliance Internationale de Tourisme proposed a plan to build a
road from London to Istanbul and beyond to British colonies in Africa and
India. The plan would would not build new roads but merely improve existing
roads for mixed car, horse, carriage and foot traffic. This map of the road,
produced in 1938 shows bold lines that indicate smooth connections, along
with distances to be covered between each city. Such maps were more meant
to lobby support for a grand vision of connection to the colonies than to
express any sort of reality on the ground. Even in the first portions of road to
be built – the stretch from London to Istanbul – paved roads suitable for cars
were far from the norm.
From London to Bombay By
Road
Map produced by the
Automobile Association of
Western India, 1938 from their
promotional brochure From
London to India—by Road!
Source: ANWB Archive, The
Hague
Owner: Automobile
Association
And see what
else out there is
related:
theme path: The incredible car
see map view

15. Linking theme paths
(connecting objects between stories and exhibits)

16. Further features
• Search
• Lightbox for static and dynamic content
• Additonal (non-published) comment
• Map views
• Tagging and sharing
Phase II
• User stories
• User-generated content

17. Exploring the Dark Continent
(Europe in a Global World)
hic sunt dracones

18. Europe: a user’s manual
(Technological Dramas)
Housingforbeginners
Stories focus on use and
adaptation of circulating
artefacts; where possible
personal stories as story
drivers

19. Building the European Expert
(Knowledge Societies)
Stories focus on biographical variables:
(also birthplace, nationality, gender, area of expertise)
social network
projectseducation
++ =

20. 'Eventing' Europe: events
Single events as story drivers
that show material, institutional
and symbolic aspects of
communication and information

21. Making the Big Picture
(Nature to Networks)
Primary source maps
as story drivers, to
explore technologies,
knowledges,
connections;
disconnections

22. Making, learning (and breaking)
the rules (Governing Europe)

23. Time Frame
• October 29 2010 Discuss design and
participation with (potential) partners
• End November: set basic design and
exhibit features
• January12-14 workshop: Further
opportunity to meet with museums; first
stories ready
• May 2011 – Working prototype of design,
partner coalition, closing NIAS workshop