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Making the invisible visible: hyperlinked webcomics as alternative points of entry to the digitised Gertrude Bell archive

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Lydia Wysocki, Professor Mark Jackson, Dr Jane Webster

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This is the authors' accepted manuscript of an article that has been published in its final definitive form by Taylor and Francis, 2020.

For re-use rights please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.


Abstract

Web environments can support non-specialist access to prestigious and complex scholarlyarchives. We report on the creation and evaluation of webcomics that incorporate hyperlinks,a technological innovation that makes digitised artefacts from the Gertrude Bell Archivevisible to learners. This shows readers the need to examine the evidence on whichinterpretations are based: an issue fundamental to academic researchers and archivists, butthat might otherwise be obscured in educational and entertainment media. Moving beyondthe established use of digitised archives by academic researchers, we explore wider issues ofaccess and use. Quantitative analytics suggest readers read all pages of the comic andaccessed digitised sources. Qualitative feedback and consultation with young people foundthe hyperlinked webcomics to be credible comics in their own right as well as their value assituated points of entry to archive material. Observed reader behaviour identifiedopportunities to encourage more structured exploration of the digitised archive.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Wysocki L, Jackson M, Miers J, Webster J, Coxon B

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: International Journal of Heritage Studies

Year: 2020

Volume: 26

Issue: 5

Pages: 480-497

Online publication date: 05/09/2019

Acceptance date: 29/08/2019

Date deposited: 17/09/2019

ISSN (print): 1352-7258

ISSN (electronic): 1470-3610

Publisher: Taylor and Francis

URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/13527258.2019.1663236

DOI: 10.1080/13527258.2019.1663236


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