Transmediation and the Archive Decoding Objects in the Digital Age

Building on the field of modern archival practice, Transmediation and the Archive explores the possibilities of archival objects. Investigating material as diverse as early modern printed books, death masks, a spirit photograph, and a manuscript choir book, this study interrogates not only what the objects are now, but also asks what they were before taking material form, and what they can become as their format is transferred to other media. Blending insights from museum, library, archives, and media studies with experiential research, Astrid J. Smith examines the activities that shape the making of heritage objects, and asks how an awareness of digitization practices can inform our knowledge of both their digital and physical form. She proposes a new methodological framework for evaluating the way materiality and media can affect our relationship with historical artefacts and book culture and demonstrates its fascinating application.

Astrid J. Smith is Rare Book and Special Collections Digitization Specialist and a Production Coordinator at Stanford Libraries, focusing on medieval objects and fragile archival materials. A life-long creative, she is especially interested in book arts and the philosophy of digitization.