U-Protest: An Interactive Historical Experience

Similar to the green screens that are used for movie production or on the morning news, the exhibition Humanity Behind the Movement will contain something similar, entitled U-Protest. Using a green screen, visitors will be able to select from a variety of ten still images from the collection. Upon choosing a photo, the image will appear on the screen and participants will have the opportunity to pose for a still photo or film a small ten-second video. Whether they choose to engage in their own sit-in, lead a march, or have a photo-op with Stokely Carmichael, they will be able to place themselves within the exhibition. Although all the events represented in the exhibition are from sixty to seventy years ago, people can truly connect with the images by putting them into a more personal perspective. This technology will enable museum-goers to understand the reality behind historical works of art, it will create an environment of fun and free expression, and it will help those who are kinesthetic learners. Even though these historical settings cannot be completely duplicated, it is crucial for the viewers to connect with the true purpose of this exhibition, which is to place humanity at the forefront of the movement. The events represented didn’t just happen to the United States of America, they happened to actual people. U-Protest will give an outlet for visitors to express themselves as individuals and give them more time to reflect on the art in a way they normally could not. The screen will enlarge these images at almost ten times their original size, which will hopefully stir up different interpretations of the work. Considering different perspectives is the overall goal when observing art. This activity will shed light on pieces that viewers may not have seen up close or been able to appreciate by just passing by. U-Protest will be located near the last work in the exhibition as a way for participants to have fun before they leave, so that their last impressions of the works are lively, just like humanity.