Read Green, “The Exhibition That Speaks For Itself,” available on Electronic Course Reserve. In class we will discuss the uses of public history, as well as the challenges that go along with such endeavors.
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As someone who is basically a visual learner, I was skeptical about the idea of a museum exhibit with no objects or text boards. Yet as Green described her project I was persuaded that the idea has merit. Obviously, as she points out in her summary, an immense amount of planning went into the exhibit, since it was a fairly revolutionary concept. The choice of individual railroad seats and speakers seems a near perfect solution to the dilemma of how to present the material. Audio books and pod-casts have become very popular with the public, but most often are listened to “on the go,” as a backdrop to travel by foot, wheels, or airplane. Green’s exhibit is more akin to the old radio shows that kept people’s interest for hours. Somehow that is appropriate to listening to historic memories.
I was also struck by Green’s comment that, while, it was often technically difficult to edit out vocal asides from interviewers, she noted the importance of an engaged interviewer, who established rapport with the interviewee and was conversational. She supports a very strongly held conviction of mine about the interaction between the interviewed and interviewee. People are more apt to tell complete stories when they are not faced with dry, “just the facts” style of interviewing.
The Frankton Junction exhibit in New Zealand effectively demonstrated the use of oral histories as the central focus of an exhibit. What the organizers of this exhibit did most effectively, however, was treat the oral histories properly as a primary source. Using proper historical discretion is crucial in any historical endeavor. For example, when using primary sources, we are taught as graduate students not to “analyze away” from what is being said in the source, for this can lead to a misrepresentation of someone’s words or historical action. Exhibits, much like scholarly publications, have thematic focuses in which source material must conform with in order to be used. For example, Matt Andrew’s editing of the National Counsellor’s resignation from the Railway Union in order to demonstrate a disconnect from family life illustrated careful editing of a primary source without adversely altering the individual’s memory or integrity of the source. This careful methodology, in exhibits or scholarly work, will prove effective in any historical setting.
When first reading this I was wondering how they would present these audio clips with out being distracting to others at different exhibits. But the idea of using controlled placement of the audio speakers on the chairs is a good idea and will help. I was surprised about the stories of the children being beaten for things it sounds like. I guess people in New Zealand have an idea of tough love all their own. I think that their goals could be met. They would definitely have a diverse collections and I think people would natural reminisce about their own history and if with others would probably share with those around them. It would be a interesting exhibit to visit.