Advertising History

A place where public history, pop culture and mass media collide. into rainbows. or not. var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-30721724-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();

[philipderise]

Havana Cuba, 2014

[advertisinghistory]

Vote | Reel 13 | THIRTEEN

Only 4 more hours! Sunday in the Country!!

[advertisinghistory]

VOTE!!! Love "Sunday in the Country" -time to vote and have it broadcast nationally! 

[advertisinghistory]

Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, VA.

[advertisinghistory]

Part Roshomon, part 16 Candles...love this short film. 

[advertisinghistory]

Soon these will be obsolete. People will never again know the pleasure of finding either a full meter or finding a broken meter. One friends said "Finding a broken meter was like hitting the parking jackpot."

[advertisinghistory]

I want to know everything about this mail shoot.

[advertisinghistory]

Great exhibit on propaganda during the Civil War at ICP. Yes, that is Jefferson Davis wearing a dress and yes, Poughkeepsie is spelled Po'keepsie.

Cosmo and Sports Illustrated aren't the only ones photoshopping, mass media has been manipulating photos for a long time!

[advertisinghistory]

New Motto?

[advertisinghistory]

Hiatus (Over?)

I have taken quite a hiatus as I acclimated to working and teaching. Teaching has been, probably, one of the hardest things I have ever done. Never before have I thought so much about how I speak, how I write, how I communicate, how to organize, how to keep 17 people interested and learn, for three hours, one day a week and how to be confident while doing it all. 

I think about the best teachers I ever had, they are creative, kept things moving, had a sense of humor, and when I would leave class, I would realize that something was stuck in my brain (Ahhh learning!). What teachers made you interested in history? And why? 

[advertisinghistory]

Writer's Block

Well first and foremost, Happy New Year! But ugh, I have a slight case of writer's block (or just a block in general) and have had it for a while now. 

I am in the midst of working out my syllabus and class content for an upcoming undergraduate class I will be teaching, starting in January. I think I am just scared shitless. To go in front of 18 undergraduates and spout on History, is really nerve racking, to say the least. It isn't that I don't think I will have anything to say, it is just that I am worried what I have to say, or what I want to say will be boring. Ohhh to be boring! It is basically my worst fear. 

The thing is, I really do think history is really and really interesting, but I think that because I have studied it a lot and I feel like a detective most of the time. Once you start researching and getting little pieces of the puzzle, it is fun to try and put them altogether and see where they lead you. And you never get to the same place twice. But I think that is what is so complicated about teaching history, it isn't definitive. 2+2 will always equal 4, but in history that is rarely the case. 

[advertisinghistory]

Top 10's

Its that time of year again where every Top 10 list you can think of, is published. I have noticed though, not one list is dedicated to History or any forms of History-Making. Lets see some Top 10 History Museum Exhibits, Top 10 History Web site, Top 10 History Tweets, Top 10 History Podcasts, Top 10 History Blogs...

If we don't validate it, no one else will.  

[advertisinghistory]

mo' education, mo' contradictions

Stupid title I know. 

The Penn State Scandal has struck a nerve with me. While I abide by "innocent before proven guilty," I will *try* to make no judgements towards Paterno, Sandusky and all the other idiots that were involved in this awful situation. I am disgusted by Penn State's administrators and leadership and in shock that what allegedly happened, happened, for as long as it is alleged. The more I think about it though, the more my shock and disbelief turn to a sick and uncomfortable understanding because after five years working in higher ed, the name of the game is money. And lets not front, money rules no matter what, but within higher ed, it is a particuarly ugly and Penn State is now the poster child for said ugliness. 

There is a great article in the Daily Beast discussing the corrupted interplay between money and college sports: http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2011/11/13/joe-paterno-scandal-shows-need-for-reform-of-college-sports.html. And I think it is a great jumping off point for a frank look at how money dictates and regulates education in both private and public institutions. 

The sad truth is, is that if you are student and you are bringing in money from parental/family donations you will be provided with access, support and, if needed, reprieve, at every step of your college career. I have seen students, first hand, be given countless privileges, ranging from grade pumping to having a say in curricula and academic programming to fully produced gallery exhibits. To be honest, I don't have a problem with students arguing their grade and/or having direct involvement in curricula, but I do have problem when it is only open to certain students, specifically those whose parents are donating thousands and thousands of dollars. I also have a problem, actively supporting students and their artistic endeavors when there are other students, less privileged and more talented, who are ignored. 

I would argue that on the whole, university and college presidents, deans, provosts, senior-level administrators, faculty, i.e the whole lot, are complicit in this process. It provides employment, needed research and publishing, access (albeit undemocratized access) and most importantly education. It is a torrid and contradictory web we weave.

[jaymug]

[advertisinghistory]

This is why art museums will continue to be more relevant than history museums. 

jaymug:

Tel Aviv Museum of Art opens its new Herta and Paul Amir Building

[advertisinghistory]

In the Pursuit of Jobs

I am having issues with history graduates and their pursuit of work. 

I am frustrated by graduates of History MA programs and their pursuit and expectation of employment (this sort of goes hand and hand with my previous post regarding Facebook posts). When I read Facebook postings or talk to old friends from grad school, relaying their anxieties and fears about their inability to get work, I want to shake them and scream "What did you expect??!!" But the thing is, as a graduate student, you do expect to get a job. You are thinking critically, doing amazing research, writing and performing at a high-level, why wouldn't you get a job? As a graduate student you are doing, what seems like, necessary and unique work and exhibiting marketable skills. But unique skills are not always so translatable to actually finding work. I think, though, that has less to do with the state of cultural institutions in this country and more to do with narrow scope that history graduate students seem to have.

Having an MA in History, Public History and/or Archives does not mean you can and should ONLY work in a museum! I mean I get it. I understand why y'all want to. I did too. And for the brief time I did work in a museum, I geninunely loved it. But I think we must take a step back and really try and understand what it is Public Historians (or whatever you want to call non-PhD track historians that are not working in accademia) do, and better yet, lets try and think and question, what are we capable of doing? 

Why have we limited our scope to museums? Why are we so convinced that this where we "belong?" Why do we believe History and all that goes along with it, critical thinking, researching and writing, only exists within the framework of exhibits in museums? I think the challenge for young (and experienced) historians out there is to be proactive about what they do, take an active stance about their skills and demand and EXPECT more. 

What disturbs me MOST is the people that have found museum or cultural institute-related work and are being underpaid for it. I have quite a few friends that are willing to be paid $25,000-$30,000 to work in a museum (In NYC!!). I am appalled; and I won't even get into the gender politics of museum employees (that the majority of people doing the work are women except for the most senior level). Why do we believe, and I would argue this is an inherent and ingrained belief, that the work we do is SO invaluable? Because we work in a non-profit, we therefore are deserving of less? Museums could be sustainable, I am not saying profitable, but sustainable, and give a living salary that allows people to not have to be martyrs for museums. 

Stand up for what you believe and most of all believe in yourself and your worth. 

[advertisinghistory]

Lifelogging and Facebook

The shit people post on Facebook is crazy. I am constantly impressed and sort of in awe by the openness an also the relatively short-sidedness of posts; like what is the exact point of airing your "dirty laundry?" And does this shit get saved? What does Facebook do with it? Should it be saved for access later on? Does it really help form a comprehensive picture of the past?

We are in the middle of a cultural change (I think) right now that is caused by use of digital forms of communications. -there is more to this statement but I am late for work and can't go into it. So here are some tidbits from my Facebook "friends:"

"Once again my husband leaves me, what a fucking suprise....this shit is getting really obvious and old...BUT HE ISNT CHEATING EVERYONE...BS--this sagga is at its end..I am moving on...anything is better than THIS--- I am not suprised but I am very dissapointed because it could have been handled more maturally......:( THIS SUCKS!"

"Tomorrow is a new day, it's my day. Every day after that will be mine and anyone else's that chooses to seize it. Today is the first day of the rest of my life."

"Epson salt bath and a baconator inside me.......good end to the day. Today I choreographed gay men having sex missionary style...my urge to get a man preggers is working its way into my choreography! Should probs investigate THAT further with someone who holds an advanced degree and is licensed by the state."

[advertisinghistory]

ROBOTS OR DINOSAURS?

Robots