Material and materiality are defined as both the physical aspect of objects or the potential for elaboration in non-physical matter. The philosophical implications of these definitions has led to further definitions by philosophers over time. Marx broadened the definition of material to mean more than just tangible objects and Heidegger brought to attention things that are immaterial. Materiality is an important concept to consider in regards to objects of historical significance and museum collections.
Before this class I had never considered race film and did not know who George P. Johnson was. Reading through his transcripts and learning about Johnson’s contributions to early African American film was extremely interesting. However, simply reading about what he had done could not compare to when we visited the special collections room last week and had the opportunity to look through old files and actually handle physical objects. Something about holding old newspaper clippings in your hands and feeling the texture of the aged, yellowing paper was an experience unlike any other. Reading some of the articles in the newspaper clippings that we looked through transported me through time and I could feel the weight and impact of the historical events that had already passed. Clearly, the newspaper clippings and old handouts can be defined as material because they are physical objects, but they also were material in the sense of the second definition. The words on each page and the stories they told hold a tangible significance that gives them non-physical materiality.
In contrast to the physical objects in the special collections, the Smithsonian X3D museum is a digital archive accessible through the Internet. I browsed a few of the models and took a tour of the Saqsaywaman zigzag wall. Although it was informative to read the history and facts of the zigzag wall while it automatically rotated, I didn’t feel the same connection to the piece that I did with the newspaper clippings in the special collections. I think there is something special about being able to experience a museum and its exhibits in person, but the digital collection is a feasible means to give more people access to objects and pieces. The digital models and tours are an easy way to conduct research and learn more about everything from burial sites to wooly mammoth skeletons. One of the things that I enjoyed was the ability to spin the models 360 degrees, so I could easily see every inch of the piece that I was browsing. Technology and digital devices can help improve and enhance museum experiences but I believe that the materiality of original artifacts and objects still leaves a stronger, longer lasting impact.
I enjoyed reading your blog, and your analysis of handling physical objects compared to digital ones. I agree that there is definitely something very special about getting to hold an actual piece of history in your hands. I also liked how you considered the pros and cons of the Smithsonian X3D digital archive, because I do think that it offers a very different, though still beneficial, museum experience.