The Power of Narrative in the Virtual Public Square is part of a larger project, Baltimore Stories, funded by the NEH, that UMCP, UMBC Dresher Center, UMBC Imaging Research Center (IRC) and the Enoch Pratt are co-sponsoring. On June 8, Joe Tropea (History M.A. alum) will talk about the documentary he produced and directed with Skizz Cyzkof called "Hit and Stay" about the Catonsville Nine and other draft board actions during the Vietnam War. On June 11, Denise Meringolo, Director of UMBC Public History MA, will be talking about the public digital archive of the April 2015 events that she and many collaborators have developed.Anyone interested in public scholarship and Baltimore might want to tune in to all of these Baltimore Stories events.Dr. Bickel and Sherella Cupid are working with a team from the IRC (Lee Boot, Chris Kojzar and Jaclin Paul) on five Baltimore community events as part of this larger project that are focused on culture, stories and arts and their central role in our Baltimore lives and the changing economy of the city and region. These events will be held over the summer and next fall. More information on those will be posted on the LLC group also.
The Power of Narrative in the Virtual Public Square
Session 1: Wednesday, June 8th 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Enoch Pratt Library: Waverly Branch, 400 E. 33rd St., Baltimore
Session 2: Saturday, June 11th 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Enoch Pratt Library: Southeast Anchor Branch, 3601 Eastern Ave., Baltimore
In today’s society, technology and social media create virtual public spaces where stories and narratives are created, shared, written, rewritten, and archived. Following the death of Freddie Gray, the Maryland Historical Society, University of Baltimore, and University of Maryland, Baltimore County jointly created a digital archive of stories and photographs as a way of building and telling a more complete story. Twitter is another virtual public square where the events in Baltimore were discussed.
The focus of this public program will be on exploring how people who participated in virtual public spaces during the events following the killing of Freddie Gray think about their involvement in the shaping of the narrative. In this public program, data storytelling experts will come together with Baltimore residents to discuss engagement in virtual public spaces. Participants will discuss how social media changes the narrative(s) and the interrelationships between social media and legacy media, the more traditional means of communication and expression that predate the internet.
