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Culture, Commerce, and the Digital Humanities
The Digital Humanities program aims to equip students for the global marketplace by developing skills to communicate using multi-modal digital methods. In this project, students explore the humanities – and learn how to represent cultural nuances of the North Atlantic – through the use of information technology skills, such as big data analysis, data visualization, and cross-platform communication. Students gain workplace competency based on interdisciplinary knowledge from the sciences and humanities and gain real-life applications in marketing, business communication, and humanities-centered entrepreneurialism. As part of the Digital Humanities program, Bischof’s research compares cultural and geological experiences of Maine and Iceland through 19th and 20th century photography. Bischof is analyzing the ways in which these cultures have created and used a sense of regional identity. She is exploring the impact of the modernization of these societies and the cultural traditions that have evolved or remained to develop an understanding of the visual culture of the North Atlantic. Bischof is also working with private and public institutions to digitize large photographic archives that are not easily accessible to the public.
Vision
The vision for the future of this work is to produce a transatlantic exhibition with a digital component showcasing the results of the research and also to share best practices for digital photographic preservation and accessibility. In support of this vision, Bischof is pursuing photographic historian connections in Iceland and developing a North Atlantic network in photography and history.
Collaborators
- Gulf of Maine Research Institute
- Animation Specialist (Jordyn Curley)
- Einar Suaversson
- Justin Levesque
- Penobscot Marine Museum
- National Museum of Iceland
- Reykjavik Museum of Photography
- Maine Historical Society
- Maine Humanities Council
- Creative Portland
- Burgess Advertising (John Spritz)
- University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
- Maine Center for the Humanities
- Vinalhaven Historical Society
Professors

Libby Bischof
Department of History

Libby Bischof
Department of History

John Muthyala
Department of English

John Muthyala
Department of English
- Email:muthyala@maine.edu

Jan Piribeck
Department of Art

Jan Piribeck
Department of Art
- Email:janp@maine.edu