iPhones, Museums, and You

I remember a gr. 6 field trip to visit Casa Loma in Toronto. As part of the tour we were given listening devices that resembled a Walkman (or a portable audio cassette player) that guided us through the rooms, noting neat facts and pointing out special objects. I can't quite remember, but I strongly suspect it was not an overly enthusiastic commentary and probably wasn't made for the attention span of your average pre-teen. I quickly abandoned the audio guide and made my own way through the rooms, awed at their grandeur but ignorant of their importance.

I recently read an article that declared iPhones and "apps" the technology of choice for museums, like the Victoria and Albert Museum and art galleries, that are attempting to enhance the exhibit-viewing experience. Visitors can download apps that give tours, provide additional information and interactive 3-D images of various artifacts.

Besides being only available to iPhone owners and having to pay for the application, I think this is a fantastic idea. It allows people to interact with exhibits without having to physically touch the the artifact. An interactive map could ensure that you don't miss any aspects of the museum or gallery. It also cuts back on the use of paper, since many museums still give out maps, which at the end of the day can be found littered all over the museum.

It would be great if this app could help advertise related or upcoming exhibits. For example: if you indicated that you liked one particular artist or themed exhibit, the app could suggest other areas of the museum or institutions that relate to this interest.

People love technology and showing off their latest gadget. Bringing iPhones into museums gives people an excuse to show off their fancy phones, but most importantly, brings audio tours into the 21st century with cool graphics, hopefully capturing the attention and imagination of adults and 6th graders alike.

Being an avid reader, movie/TV watcher, and school-goer, I have learned about cool places and things found all over the world that one day I would like to see in person.

Up first is L'Anse aux Meadow in Newfoundland, Canada. I cannot exactly remember when my obsession with Vikings began, but after writing several essays for various archaeology and history classes, I began to appreciate these Norsemen for who they were- talented explorers, shipbuilders, and farmers [although I have to admit, they did pilage and were fairly ruthless when dealing with monks]. It would be an amazing opportunity to visit the earliest known European settlement site in North America, and to actually see the structures and artifacts I have written so much about.

In 2008 I went on a short trip to St. John's with my sister and father, but was disappointed to learn that this UNESCO World Heritage Site was at least 8 hours away by car. But I still intend to make it out there one day.

Next up, I really want to see Stonehenge. I know it's a very cliche and "touristy" thing to do, but, again, after learning about in British history and watching a fasinating documentary about the site, I still want to see this stone monstrosity.

Who doesn't want to see the The Great Pyramids of Giza? Or any pyramids for that matter. The last time I studied Ancient Egypt I think was in elementary school, but the images have stuck with me. I also have to admit, that my interest in Egyptian archaeology was renewed when I started reading Elizabeth Peter's books about Amelia Peabody, a British archaeologist who always manages to stumbled upon a mystery while digging in Egypt with her family.

But lucky for me, I just have to hop a train to Toronto to get a glimpse of Egypt. I can't wait to check out the King Tut exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario.

I have always wanted to see the Terracotta army in China since first year archaeology. I just cannot fathom how overwhelming this sight must be, with over 8,000 soldiers and not two of them looking the same. But lucky for me, since I cannot afford to travel to China, in 2011 The Musee des Beaux-Arts de Montreal will be featuring 14 soldiers from this amazing archaeological find.

Next my travels will take me to South America where I will visit Machu Picchu. I have always been interested in Inca architecture and I bet the view would be amazing.

Last, but certainly not least, I have always wanted to go to Easter Island to see the giant stone heads. I know close to nothing about them but have always thought they looked cool and it would be incredible to see so many in one place. And I admire their acting.

Historically fashionable

Through my job at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival Archives, I recently had the amazing opportunity to venture to Toronto and attend the opening show for LG Fashion Week, Beauty by L'Oreal. The first runway show of the evening celebrated L'Oreal's 100th anniversary and featured designs inspired by the style of each decade the beauty empire has been in business, beginning with 1910.

On the large screens at the top of the runway, a pictorial history of L'Oreal was shown by utilizing archival pictures and advertisements. It was interesting to see in quick succession, [and I mean quick! Those models can move!] a history of 20th century Western fashion. In my opinion as a historian who knows nothing about the history of fashion, it seems like the 20th century saw the greatest change in regards to what people, espcially women, wore. As women began to enter the work force, especially after WWII, they had less time to make clothes, but had the finances to purchase them from department stores and catalogues that springing up all over the country.

What I do know about the history of fashion is that it's cyclical. I learned in my grade 11 Fashion Class that evidence of this cycle can been seen by looking at silhouettes of women's skirts. They start with large, puffy skirts, then it turns into a bell shape, eventually slims down, and slowly, through the decades, volume increases again. A perfect example of this, as was illustrated in the fashion show, was going from the slim "flapper" look of the 1920's, to Dior's New Look, which brought back the fuller skirt in the 1950's.This principle can sometimes be useful in my current job when I'm trying to identify which time period a certain play takes place.

I am still, however, trying to find a historical precendent for the 1980's.

My favourite look of the evening was the one inspired by the 1940's. It was an A-line skirt, premeditating Dior's New Look, with a fitted blazer, perhaps a salut to the female military contribution in World War II.