Comments on: Mary Washington Centennial on flickr http://bavatuesdays.com/mary-washington-centennial-on-flickr/ a "b" blog Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:25:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: jimgroom http://bavatuesdays.com/mary-washington-centennial-on-flickr/comment-page-1/#comment-50867 jimgroom Sat, 05 Jan 2008 11:09:25 +0000 http://bavatuesdays.com/mary-washington-centennial-on-flickr/#comment-50867 Leslie, This comment in many way affirms the experiment. The idea, at least for me, is not to mummify in an online sepulcher, but rather to place it in some kind of discursive formation around the history in question. It's pretty easy to dismiss an institution as conservative, or even progressive for that matter, but its much more interesting to place this history with a more fluid space that opens up these experiences, however banal or extraordinary, to many voices. You contribution here in many ways affirms this, and suggest that at least in terms of the digital age Mary Washington has got some new, and potentially very interesting, ways of thinking about its past -- and what is more important to the South than its past, despite all its myriad problematics. Leslie,
This comment in many way affirms the experiment. The idea, at least for me, is not to mummify in an online sepulcher, but rather to place it in some kind of discursive formation around the history in question. It’s pretty easy to dismiss an institution as conservative, or even progressive for that matter, but its much more interesting to place this history with a more fluid space that opens up these experiences, however banal or extraordinary, to many voices.

You contribution here in many ways affirms this, and suggest that at least in terms of the digital age Mary Washington has got some new, and potentially very interesting, ways of thinking about its past — and what is more important to the South than its past, despite all its myriad problematics.

]]> By: Leslie M-B http://bavatuesdays.com/mary-washington-centennial-on-flickr/comment-page-1/#comment-49795 Leslie M-B Mon, 31 Dec 2007 11:04:50 +0000 http://bavatuesdays.com/mary-washington-centennial-on-flickr/#comment-49795 It's interesting to see these photos as a quasi-alumna of the old MWC. I attended for a whopping single semester in 1997 before culture shock, tripled dorm rooms, stifling conservative politics and Christian evangelism, and a couple episodes of food poisoning from Seacobeck sent this Southern Californian fleeing for more progressive climes. The photos are especially interesting because the school from which I did eventually graduate (Grinnell) celebrated its 150th (in a huge, over-the-top way) while I was a student there. I feel very connected to that institution's history, and feel very proud that its past is in some way my history. Looking at the UMW/MWC photos makes me think, "Wow, that was almost my history." Part of me wants to say, "Rock on--awesome photos of (strong?) women from the early part of the 20th century." The other part of me (the cultural historian and former student) feels queasy for various and complex reasons when I look at the photos. That said, I'm glad that UMW is making centennial images widely available. My current institution (UC Davis) is celebrating its centennial next academic year, and I'd love to see it take a page from UMW's approach in posting photos on Flickr and encouraging alumni comments. It’s interesting to see these photos as a quasi-alumna of the old MWC. I attended for a whopping single semester in 1997 before culture shock, tripled dorm rooms, stifling conservative politics and Christian evangelism, and a couple episodes of food poisoning from Seacobeck sent this Southern Californian fleeing for more progressive climes.

The photos are especially interesting because the school from which I did eventually graduate (Grinnell) celebrated its 150th (in a huge, over-the-top way) while I was a student there. I feel very connected to that institution’s history, and feel very proud that its past is in some way my history. Looking at the UMW/MWC photos makes me think, “Wow, that was almost my history.” Part of me wants to say, “Rock on–awesome photos of (strong?) women from the early part of the 20th century.” The other part of me (the cultural historian and former student) feels queasy for various and complex reasons when I look at the photos.

That said, I’m glad that UMW is making centennial images widely available. My current institution (UC Davis) is celebrating its centennial next academic year, and I’d love to see it take a page from UMW’s approach in posting photos on Flickr and encouraging alumni comments.

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