Public Lecture – Digital Intangible Cultural Heritage & Museums: Mistakes of the Past, Trends of the Present and Prospects for the Future

Part of CCCH9051 Digitizing Cultural Heritage in Greater China

Date: April 10, 2024

Time: 4:30-5:45 pm

Venue: CYCP1, Chong Yuet Ming Chemistry Building

Speaker: Dr. Harald Peter Kraemer, Curator, University Museum and Art Gallery (UMAG)

Abstract:

As projects stored on CD-ROM and CD-I, or websites created with Flash have shown, the increasing dependence of museums on the latest media technologies in the ‘Age of digital Throwawayism’ has repeatedly led to the loss of digital intangible cultural heritage. Now that the hype surrounding NFTs has nearly died away, more experiments are being conducted with AR and VR. Additionally, immersive walk-in spaces contribute to a ‘Disneyfication’ of museum environments, exerting a significant influence on visitor behaviour. Are museums currently turning into amusement parks? In his lecture, Harald P Kraemer explores these questions and shows possible perspectives for the future of museums.

About the speaker:

Since completing his PhD on museum informatics and digital collections, Harald P Kraemer has been investigating the interplay of media technologies and their influence on museums. He works as an exhibition curator at UMAG and teaches the courses ‘Digital Media and Museums’ as well as ‘The Art of Storytelling’ in the HKU MA Museum Studies programme.

All staff and students are welcome. No registration is required.