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Main concept #1: Why Digital Storytelling
Main concept #1: Why Digital Storytelling
Digital Humanities work has often pushed against the conventional practices of academic institutions and archives, but it rarely stops there. Professional journalists, fictional authors, and all forms of content creators have benefited from digital tools -- some with more success than others.
Take a moment to interact with “Snow Fall: The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek” by New York Times reporter John Branch. You can also look at this 10th Anniversary of "Snow Fall" piece by Sarah Bahr, covering how the Pulitzer Prize-winning piece changed the outlet’s storytelling styles.
Once you’ve had some time to look at the piece, read this article by Jason Paul Michel on how Snow Fall led to the development of an app for the digital special exhibition "Cradle of Coaches."
You can also see the data visualization in action using this short video! →
Activity #1
Activity #1
Look at one of the stories below or find a favorite of your own using a preferred search engine.
The James Webb Space Telescope: Looking back towards the beginning of time from CBS Sunday Morning
Lil Nas X’s unofficial ‘Satan’ Nikes containing human blood sell out in under a minute from CNN's Oscar Holland and Jacqui Palumbo
Muriel Bowser wins 3rd term as Washington, DC, mayor from the Associated Press's Ashraf Khalil
Now that you've had time to review and skim some of the stories above pick a digital tool that you think could best improve the story. Among the tools you could use:
Spend about 30 - 45 minutes on this activity, leaving time to consider where the digital story is being read or interacted with.
Tablets and eReaders
Smartphones
Laptops and Desktops
When you finish building and/or sharing your digital experiment, consider:
What did the various stories have in common, what tools were worth using, and why did the tool you picked improve the story for the audience member?
Did your tool introduce a new medium for the story?
Is the story more accessible for users across new or ignored demographic groups?
Did the tool change your understanding of the story you read?
Main concept #2: sharing and protecting stories
Main concept #2: sharing and protecting stories
Maia Kobabe:
Maia Kobabe:
“I don't think the book is for children, but I do think that it is appropriate for teen readers... also that libraries have books for all ages, and you shelve them with signage, and people browse and find the books that they need in a library. And not every book in the library is for every reader, but they still need to be available.”
“I don't think the book is for children, but I do think that it is appropriate for teen readers... also that libraries have books for all ages, and you shelve them with signage, and people browse and find the books that they need in a library. And not every book in the library is for every reader, but they still need to be available.”
Not every story is for every reader.
Not every story is for every reader.
Exploring digital storytelling tools can raise questions about what contributions should be publicly accessible and what should be left offline. Should these digital tools, and others, be used to share all stories? Should all stories be shared, or do some topics and narratives need to be kept out of the general public?
Read this piece on how digital storytelling helps to make meaning of shared experiences like death and trauma or this research article on digital storytelling as racial justice.
New Digital Tools and ethical use
New Digital Tools and ethical use
Watch the following video on writing an AI story with ChatGPT + Midjourney. Consider the ethical implications, what data is used to construct these stories, and where AI stories may be worse for wear. Do you believe stories crafted this way are ethically made?
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