Visual reconstructions of memory:

the critical interpretation of the collective imaginary through web documentaries

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25029/od.2017.125.12

Keywords:

Webdocumental, iconography, hypertext, social intervention, colective imaginary

Abstract

Nowadays the communication ecosystem is full of hypertextual technologies (and formats) that shape our subjectivity and broaden the discursive universes in which cultural products are inserted to transmit specific memorable iconography. In describing the role played by these visual artifacts in shaping the collective imagination in Spain, we focus on the study of interactive proposals whose analysis reveals an unprecedented capacity to articulate a very wide range of documentaries (videos, photos, audios , texts, graphics, links, nodes, anchors, menus, etc.) around the reconstruction of lost memories. Audiovisual experiments like “Imatges de un bombardeig. Barcelona bàrbarament bombardejada” (Images of a bombardment. The barbaric bombing of Barcelona) (Julián Álvarez, 2004), “Seat: las sombras del progreso” (Seat: the shadows of progress) (UAB, 2012) and, more recently, “Las Sinsombrero” (The hatless) (RTVE Lab, 2015) offer a metalinguistic reflection on the role of collective representation in the construction of contemporary digital iconography.

Author Biography

Roberto Arnau Roselló, Universitat Jaume I de Castelló (Spain)

Graduated in Audiovisual Communication from the University of Valencia (1997) and PhD from the Jaume I University of Castellón (2006). He has taught at the University Institute of Technology of the University of Franche Comté (Besançon, France) where he has carried out technological projects, teaching and research tasks. Currently a professor at the Universitat Jaume I in the degrees of Audiovisual Communication and Journalism, as well as in the Master's Degree in New Trends and Innovation Processes in Communication. Director of the Laboratory of Communication Sciences (LABCOM) from 2008 to 2016, his activity has developed in the field of research, management, and professional practice in the audiovisual sector. Researcher in the ITACA-UJI research group (Research in technologies applied to audiovisual communication), his publications include numerous book chapters and communications in international conferences, as well as articles in scientific journals.

References

Aprea, G. (2012). Documental. Historia y memoria. Filmar la memoria. Los documentales audiovisuales y la re-construcción del pasado, 16-75. Buenos Aires: Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento.

Berenguer, X. (2004). Una década d’interactius. Temes de Disseny 21, 30-35. Consultado desde http://www.raco.cat/index.php/Temes/article/view/29826/29660

Català, J. M. (2011). Reflujos de lo visible. La expansión post-fotográfica del documental. Adcomunica Revista de estrategias de Comunicación 2, 43-62. Consultado desde http://repositori.uji.es/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10234/29171/Reflujos_Catala.pdf?sequence=1

Cornago, O. (2005). Resistir en la era de los medios. Madrid: Iberoamericana Vervuert.

Fernández Guerra, V., y Alonso Ruiz, E. (2013). Desterritorialización, modulación y puntos de inflexión en el documental contemporáneo español. La sociedad ruido: entre el dato y el grito. La Laguna: SLCS. Consultado desde http://www.revistalatinacs.org/13SLCS/2013_actas/094_Fer-nandez.pdf

Gaudenzi, S. (2009). Digital interactive documentary: from representing reality to cocreating reality [Trabajo de investigación]. London: University of London, Center for Cultural Studies.

Genette, G. (1997). Paratext: Threshold of interpretation. Londres: Cambridge University Press.

Gifreu-Castells, A. (2010). El documental multimedia interactiu. Una proposta de model d’análisi [Trabajo de investigación]. Barcelona: Universitat Pom-peu Fabra. Consultado desde https://repositori.upf.edu/bitstream/handle/10230/11346/TFM_Gifreu.pdf?sequence=1

Jenkins, H. (2003). Transmedia Storytelling. Moving characters from books to films to video games can make them stronger and more compelling. MIT Technology Review. Consultado desde https://www.technologyre-view.com/s/401760/transmedia-storytelling/

Landow, G. (2005). Hipertexto 3.0: teoría crítica y nuevos medios en la era de la globalización. Barcelona: Paidós.

Pericot, J. (2002). Mostrar para decir: la imagen en contexto. Bellaterra: UAB.

Ribas, J.I. (2001). Caracterització dels interactius multimedia de difusió cultural. Aproximació a un tractament específic, els “assaigos Interactius”. Barcelona, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Facultat de Comunicació.

Sánchez Biosca, V. (2010). Imágenes del exilio e iconografía de la retirada. La cultura exiliada. Castellón: Universitat Jaume I.

Scolari, C. (2013). Narrativas Transmedia: Cuando todos los medios cuentan. Barcelona, Deusto ediciones.

Published

2017-02-28

How to Cite

Arnau Roselló, R. (2017). Visual reconstructions of memory:: the critical interpretation of the collective imaginary through web documentaries. Obra Digital, (12), 53–67. https://doi.org/10.25029/od.2017.125.12