Dr. Lida Zeitlin-Wu’s class visit to mpark
This March, we had the pleasure to host a group of graduate students in the MA in the Humanities program at ODU. Dr. Lida Zeitlin-Wu‘s graduate seminar on Critical Methods in the Humanities was interested in critical making as a method for conducting research and engaging in it as a pedagogical practice. What better place to learn more about critical making than ODU’s own critical makerspace?
Dr. Ola Swatek, with the assistance of graduate assistant Xianzhong Meng, led a one-hour session on March 18 at BAL 2027, focusing on how mpark can support hands-on engagement with media objects, particularly obsolete technologies like analog cameras.
“My graduate students and I were delighted to enter what we thought was a regular classroom in BAL, only to enter a whimsical, multicolored space full of intriguing objects. mpark is a great example of what can be accomplished with limited resources, and I hope that more students and instructors at ODU will have the chance to learn about and creatively engage with this project.” Dr. Zeitlin-Wu
During the visit students had the opportunity to explore “dead” or “obsolete” media, examining how older Canon camera technologies functioned and their role in historical and cultural contexts. This hands-on experience allowed students to bridge theory with tangible artifacts, fostering a deeper understanding of media archaeology and technological transitions. The session provided valuable insights into how past innovations continue to shape contemporary digital culture. After much exploration, we managed to record and play one recording using a constellation of obsolete and more modern technologies.