Then Whence project is going to need a clear structural framework to accurately represent the history of our community. It needs to be truly equitable including as many artists and arts organizations as possible. The writing must be of the highest quality, without bias and from multiple perspectives. To ensure that the Whence project is politically neutral, there needs to be a clear and open procedural framework.
This page is designed to work out that procedural framework. Keep in mind, these are only my thoughts, expressed here to outline a loose framework for the project. I expect it to evolve and mature, hopefully into a new model for historical investigation and presentation.
A. What kind of expertise do we need?
- We will need a stable of writer, somewhere between 5 and 10 over the next 3 years.
- In addition to, or in conjunction with writers, we will need bloggers and videographers.
- Maybe we can establish a interview procedure that incorporated all three mediums?
- The end product is audio and video clips to be used on the timeline and on the district’s website.
- They will range from quick quotes to full-length articles.
- We may need an advisory panel to help determine what should be on the timeline.
- This panel could be made up of artists, researchers, writers and arts professionals.
- Maybe we need a different panel for each decade.
D. How do we flesh out a topic?
- Round table discussions can bring groups together around a topic or time period.
- The more specific the topic or period, the smaller the group discussion.
- Maybe the one-on-one interviews are used to focus and finish the articles.
C. The Content of the Timeline
Currently the thinking is that the end product (or deliverable) is in the form of a well-crafted digital text article, fit for print publication, but that is just one deliverable. The means to get there may produce valuable audio and video footage that is often discarded.
What if we set up a process that preserves notable clips of the dialog. A little extra effort may produce valuable pieces of history. Instead of throwing them away, how can we make them available and easily accessible?
- Audio/Text files: 60%
- Video files 30%
- Objects? 10%
- Cut the video into usable clips
- Cut the audio into usable clips
- Translate the audio in ASCII text
I think some of this can be automated, but it will need to be vetted and reduced to useful information. With info in this stage, the writer’s work is going to be much easier.
D. Timeline Categories (rows)
I first wanted the timeline to have 5 or 6 rows (categories) but since this timeline has a specific subject, the visual arts in the Twin Cities, I settled on just three. Visually, it feels better than five.
- Individual Artists
- Organizations
- All the Rest (General culture, all levels of politics, science & technology.)
I could be encouraged to expand this if I felt it wouldn’t get unwieldy.
E. So here is one structure:
- Monthly, roundtable discussions with 12 people focusing on one period.
- One writer, assigned to write a feature article.
- One moderator to keep the focus.
- One videographer to capture the audio and video to be edited into a 45 minute video and many clips.
- Five artists that live and work in the Twin Cities during the specified period.
- Four arts administrators that were instrumental during the specified period.
- Follow-up interviews with 3 to 5 people.
- Writer/individual interviews.
The end product would be a feature article, divided into discrete sections, then further divided quotes; all available from a variety of places and triggers. Also a series of video clips of various lengths to be used on the timeline and in web space.
Here is where I am envisioning a new kind of publishing that combines the many ways people choose to receive knowledge. Real world hyperlinking, if you allow me the analogy.
One of the advantages of a timeline is that you can track and compare what was going on in other aspects of the world before, during and after a specific period. Timelines can reveal less obvious associations.
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