Essay Blog 10/11

         Glassberg attributes the increase in historical activities to many things.  Economic developments have made it possible for more groups to obtain control of their own histories and therefore identities.  Glassberg also asserts that many American communities throughout the 20^th century have used historical connections to create economic development.  Wallace touts technology, from CD-ROMs to virtual reality as a primary driver in increased interest in the historical, and suggests that continued use could indeed amplify this resurgence of interest.

         I believe new technologies do in fact have some role in this increase, even if they are not the primary drivers.  From the ease of doing research on the Internet to the entertainment of historical film and TV, history permeates a great deal of our lives.  We can order library books, download historical documents and in some rare occasions actually search historical databases, making research fit into even the busiest of schedules.  We can even take virtual tours of both art and history museums, looking at the exhibits as if we were right there in the building.  It is quite possibly the case that it would truly be a more fulfilling experience to do the research at the archives, or see the statue or painting in person, but there can be little doubt that with such ease of access more people will expose themselves to these things.

         Film and Television are becoming one of the most prominent ways for Americans to acquire historical knowledge, and some of our favorite documentaries provide some kind of look at the historical, on channels ranging from PBS, to the Discovery and History Channels.  Heck, even our science-fiction television is riddled with historical interpretation, in the form of shows like Dr. Who and Warehouse 13.  Technology has even crept into our physically historical spaces in the form of learning aids at museums, from animatronics at the Smithsonian to iPads at Carillon Park.

         So, where does this leave public historians in the future of historical presentation?  Exactly where we are today, as the gatekeepers between the academic history of the university and the people who want to be connected to those histories.  Though many say such ready and easy access to such an incredible array of historical interpretations on the web there will cease to be a need for us, but we simply cannot discard the objects of history in order to preserve them digitally.  As we discussed in class, it is imperative that digitization or not, originals will still have to be maintained.  We will also still be needed to provide a filter for historical interpretations and maintaining a foundation of accuracy in what is out there.