Theme:
3. Heritage Narratives and Representations
Session format:
Regular session
Title:
Immersive Techniques as Tools for Public Outreach in Archaeology
Content:
Archaeological public outreach has for a long time seen the need for a move away from traditional glass-case exhibits. Museums are suffering from declining visitor numbers and media such as movies and documentaries have increasingly taken over as a primary public source of information about archaeological pasts. The general public often wants to be more involved, to experience something rather than just see it. However, these experiences are increasingly produced by agents outside of the archaeological discipline. The draw of Viking markets, fictional novel series, or epic movies can perhaps be said to lie in the experience itself, of the feeling of being absorbed into another world.
As such, the success of many of these media lies in the application of immersive techniques to draw their audience in. Immersion, the subjective impression of participation in a comprehensive, realistic experience, is what spurs people to watch 'Rome', read historical fiction, engage in historical reenactment, use Augmented Reality or play 'Assassin's Creed'. A key feature of immersion is suspension of disbelief, which can make people experience these worlds on an emotional level, as if they were real. However, a significant problem with many immersive media is their lack of connection to the archaeological discourse and expertise, and the result is often biased, sensationalist, euro-/androcentric, or wholly inaccurate, and only reaches privileged groups. This session seeks to explore what it is about immersive techniques that works, its pitfalls, and how we can apply immersion firsthand as a tool in public outreach.
We invite speakers to discuss all aspects of immersion, both successful and unsuccessful attempts, as well as aims, ethics and problems with using immersion in archaeological outreach. We want to promote discussion of the role immersion should play in archaeological outreach going forward, and how archaeologists can influence immersive experiences.
Keywords:
Heritage, Immersion, Public archaeology, Public outreach, Scicomm, Engagement
Session associated with MERC:
no
Session associated with CIfA:
no
Session associated with SAfA:
no
Session associated with CAA:
no
Session associated with DGUF:
no
Session associated with other:
Main organiser:
Donal Lucey (United Kingdom) 1
Co-organisers:
Tine Schenck (Norway) 2
Linn Krogsrud (Norway) 3
Affiliations:
1. Arcadis
2. ArchaeologistsEngage
3. Viken county administration
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