Virtual Archive or Museum Visit Assignment
After reading a short essay and visiting an online archive or museum (you may choose the archive or museum so long as it aligns with the topic and curriculum of the course), prepare a 4-6 slide powerpoint presentation that analyzes one or two objects on display. First, read the “Looking at Artifacts, Thinking About History” essay to guide you in your material culture analysis. Include on your title slide the name and URL of the archive or museum visited. Be sure to include a clear image of the artifact(s)you analyzed within the powerpoint. Your analysis should answer the following questions:
- How do artifacts tell their own stories;
- In what ways do artifacts connect people?;
- How can artifacts mean many things?;
- How can artifacts capture moments?;
- In what ways do artifacts reflect changes?
Finally, the PowerPoint should include a 1-2 minute personal video where you reflect on the experience of visiting a virtual archive or museum. Your reflection should answer the following questions:
- What is the purpose of the archive or museum i.e. what role/s does it serve in society?
- Is there a central argument or idea expressed by the archive/ museum you visited? (consider looking for their mission statement if there is one)?
- Who is the intended audience (or audiences; to answer this question think about who visits this kind of institution and whether this archive or museum appeals to that demographic or was it trying to reach out to a “new” constituency)?
- How does this archive or museum add to the narrative of American history (be specific!)
- What surprised you or what did you learn from your visit?
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