Jason M. Kelly's Blog, page 5
November 27, 2020
The Importance of a Digital Profile For Public Historians
As public historians in the 21st century, a digital profile is pretty much
par-for-the-course. Not only is it essential for navigating the job market,
but keeping your digital profile active and updated will allow you to
engage with broader publics and become more effective collaborators and
communicators.
par-for-the-course. Not only is it essential for navigating the job market,
but keeping your digital profile active and updated will allow you to
engage with broader publics and become more effective collaborators and
communicators.
October 8, 2020
More Public Sculptures: Carmel Misses the Point about Equity Altogether
If the City of Carmel is sincere about a more representative and equitable
public art program, then it needs to better understand the symbolic and the
economic contexts in which public art programs operate—and the ways in
which their own program reproduces real and symbolic economic, racial, and
gender inequities.
public art program, then it needs to better understand the symbolic and the
economic contexts in which public art programs operate—and the ways in
which their own program reproduces real and symbolic economic, racial, and
gender inequities.
September 28, 2020
Is There a Correlation between University Health Science and Arts & Humanities Rankings?
I am currently working with a few colleagues on a white paper that examines
the role of arts and humanities at health science oriented campuses. One of
the first topics with which we are concerning ourselves is the role that
arts and humanities play on campuses with leading health science and
medical schools. Is there, for example, a correlation between top-ranked
health science and medical programs and top-ranked arts and humanities
programs?
the role of arts and humanities at health science oriented campuses. One of
the first topics with which we are concerning ourselves is the role that
arts and humanities play on campuses with leading health science and
medical schools. Is there, for example, a correlation between top-ranked
health science and medical programs and top-ranked arts and humanities
programs?
September 25, 2020
Gilgamesh and the Great Flood in Tablet XI: Supplementary Lecture Notes
Supplementary materials and a reading list for my introduction to Tablet XI
of the Epic of Gilgamesh for the 2020-21 Religion, Spirituality, and the
Arts Seminar.
of the Epic of Gilgamesh for the 2020-21 Religion, Spirituality, and the
Arts Seminar.
September 23, 2020
Rights-Making and Rights-Taking: A Module on Stonewall and Intersectionality
In the end, I decided to frame rights in the context of "rights-making" and
"rights-taking." By "rights-making," I asked the students to reflect on the
fact that civil, human, constitutional, etc. rights are always made in a
historical context. In practice, rights are never constant. They are
negotiated, claimed, and fought for. By "rights-taking," I wanted them to
think about how, in these historical contexts, rights are taken (i.e.
claimed) by activists or taken away by those with ...
"rights-taking." By "rights-making," I asked the students to reflect on the
fact that civil, human, constitutional, etc. rights are always made in a
historical context. In practice, rights are never constant. They are
negotiated, claimed, and fought for. By "rights-taking," I wanted them to
think about how, in these historical contexts, rights are taken (i.e.
claimed) by activists or taken away by those with ...
September 18, 2020
Censorship (again), but with an Autocratic Twist
It must be that time of year again. Politicians on the right are lining up
to censor history— specifically, what texts can be used in the classroom.
And, once again, they’re pulling out their copies of Howard Zinn, shaking
them in the air, and decrying writers who challenge their triumphalist
versions of U.S. history. This time it’s the president—a person who, I can
say with relative confidence, has never read more than a few pull quotes
from the book.
to censor history— specifically, what texts can be used in the classroom.
And, once again, they’re pulling out their copies of Howard Zinn, shaking
them in the air, and decrying writers who challenge their triumphalist
versions of U.S. history. This time it’s the president—a person who, I can
say with relative confidence, has never read more than a few pull quotes
from the book.
September 17, 2020
The "Lost Cause" and the "Antebellum Imagination "
In this selection from a module which teaches them about the concept of the
“Lost Cause,” I try to help students better understand the overt and subtle
ways in which the myth of the “Lost Cause” is embedded in the contemporary
cultural milieu. In this section, I have them focus on the “antebellum
imagination”—a way of thinking that effaces the history of enslavement and
violence and instead imagines a glorious period of great houses, refined
manners, and fancy dress.
“Lost Cause,” I try to help students better understand the overt and subtle
ways in which the myth of the “Lost Cause” is embedded in the contemporary
cultural milieu. In this section, I have them focus on the “antebellum
imagination”—a way of thinking that effaces the history of enslavement and
violence and instead imagines a glorious period of great houses, refined
manners, and fancy dress.
September 15, 2020
Understanding Information and Disinformation: An Open Access Module
Central to any historical work is reading, interpreting, and analyzing
texts (whether these texts are written, visual, audio, etc.). Because of
this, historians have to read texts very closely, sifting for valuable
information and clues.
This course module has been created to help students better understand the
nature of disinformation, misinformation, and mal-information.
texts (whether these texts are written, visual, audio, etc.). Because of
this, historians have to read texts very closely, sifting for valuable
information and clues.
This course module has been created to help students better understand the
nature of disinformation, misinformation, and mal-information.
September 14, 2020
Two Weeks of Theory
My assignment is to introduce students to critical theory…in two weeks…
September 12, 2020
Open Access Oral History Training Module Now Available
The COVID-19 Oral History Project has teamed up with the Journal of the
Plague Year (JOTPY) project to make these oral histories about the
experience of COVID-19 available to the public. Among the items created
through this collaboration is our Oral History Training Module. The first
version of this module is available in Canvas through Indiana University.
Plague Year (JOTPY) project to make these oral histories about the
experience of COVID-19 available to the public. Among the items created
through this collaboration is our Oral History Training Module. The first
version of this module is available in Canvas through Indiana University.
