Craig Middleton

Collecting Social Media in Museums draws attention to the importance of collecting social media as museum objects and explores the role of rapid response and born-digital collecting in documenting social history as it happens. Drawing on a range of case studies and facilitated conversations with museum professionals and technology experts, the book discusses different approaches to incorporating creator content from social media into museum practice. It highlights the need to bridge the gap between traditional museum practices that focus only on material aspects and what the authors argue is increasingly fundamental to human experience and identity formation: social media and digital cultural artefacts. Providing readers with the critical tools necessary for a rethinking of museum collecting practices in the digital age, the book highlights different projects that have navigated ethical, legal and copyright concerns for institutions. The book culminates with recommendations relating to the implementation of social media collecting strategies, ultimately calling for the museum to be more responsive to safeguarding the content that is generated online for future generations. Collecting Social Media in Museums provides museum professionals around the world with valuable tools that will empower them to change their practices and respond to social media in real time, before it’s too late to act. Scholars and students engaged in the study of museums, media and digital humanities will also find much to interest them within the pages of this book.

Collecting Social Media in Museums draws attention to the importance of collecting social media as museum objects and explores the role of rapid response and born-digital collecting in documenting social history as it happens. Drawing on a range of case studies and facilitated conversations with museum professionals and technology experts, the book discusses different approaches to incorporating creator content from social media into museum practice. It highlights the need to bridge the gap between traditional museum practices that focus only on material aspects and what the authors argue is increasingly fundamental to human experience and identity formation: social media and digital cultural artefacts. Providing readers with the critical tools necessary for a rethinking of museum collecting practices in the digital age, the book highlights different projects that have navigated ethical, legal and copyright concerns for institutions. The book culminates with recommendations relating to the implementation of social media collecting strategies, ultimately calling for the museum to be more responsive to safeguarding the content that is generated online for future generations. Collecting Social Media in Museums provides museum professionals around the world with valuable tools that will empower them to change their practices and respond to social media in real time, before it’s too late to act. Scholars and students engaged in the study of museums, media and digital humanities will also find much to interest them within the pages of this book.

Ethan Shaw was born in Philadelphia, a man like any other until a twist of fate bound him to immortality. Living forever comes with a heavy burden, the haunting memories of battles fought, lives lost, and a past he can never escape.In the modern era, Ethan finds himself in Ukraine, a country torn by war. Fighting alongside soldiers seeking freedom, he uses his unique abilities to turn the tide of battle. His extraordinary skills and unmatched resilience make him a legend on the battlefield, but they also attract attention, dangerous attention. As Ethan aids Ukraine's fight for independence, he faces not only the horrors of war but also the relentless pursuit of those who would exploit his immortality.Haunted by the ghosts of his past and the sacrifices of those he's fought alongside, Ethan begins to question the purpose of his eternal life. Is he destined to be a weapon in every war, or can he find redemption and peace?The Immortal Soldier takes readers on a journey from the gritty streets of Philadelphia to the war-torn landscapes of Eastern Europe, blending historical grit with modern-day action. As Ethan battles enemies on the battlefield and within himself, his story becomes one of resilience, purpose, and the enduring human spirit, even for a man who cannot die.This gripping debut novel combines heart-pounding action with deep emotional stakes, perfect for fans of historical adventures, military thrillers, and stories of heroism against impossible odds.

Queering the Museum develops a queer analysis of the ways in which museums construct themselves, their core business, and their publics through the, often unconscious, use of inherited ways of knowing and doing. Providing a critique of both the practices and conventions associated with the modern public museum, and the ontological assumptions that inform them, the authors consider recent discourse around inclusion in museums and explore the ways this has been taken up in practice. Highlighting the limits of particular approaches to inclusion, and the failure to move away from a traditional museological paradigm, the book outlines an alternative critical museological approach that the authors refer to as ‘queer’. Providing readers with the critical tools necessary for a profound rethinking of museum practice, the book also responds to and problematises the growing call for social inclusion. Queering the Museum will appeal to academics, students, and museum and arts sector practitioners with an interest in critical theory or queer practice. It will be of particular interest to those working in the fields of museum studies, sociology, archaeology, anthropology, cultural studies, media, social policy, politics, philosophy, and history.

Queering the Museum develops a queer analysis of the ways in which museums construct themselves, their core business, and their publics through the, often unconscious, use of inherited ways of knowing and doing. Providing a critique of both the practices and conventions associated with the modern public museum, and the ontological assumptions that inform them, the authors consider recent discourse around inclusion in museums and explore the ways this has been taken up in practice. Highlighting the limits of particular approaches to inclusion, and the failure to move away from a traditional museological paradigm, the book outlines an alternative critical museological approach that the authors refer to as ‘queer’. Providing readers with the critical tools necessary for a profound rethinking of museum practice, the book also responds to and problematises the growing call for social inclusion. Queering the Museum will appeal to academics, students, and museum and arts sector practitioners with an interest in critical theory or queer practice. It will be of particular interest to those working in the fields of museum studies, sociology, archaeology, anthropology, cultural studies, media, social policy, politics, philosophy, and history.