Carl Smith makes a compelling argument about the use of the internet in his article "Can You Do Serious History on the Web?" Being a designer of an enormous online exhibit himself, Smith weighs the pros and cons of using this form of technology for serious academics. While he admits that the internet is by no means flawless, its advantages greatly outweigh any disadvantages. According to Smith, serious history is "original work that is responsibly based on primary sources, is intelligently informed by relevant scholarship, and makes a clear argument or group of arguments." This can absolutely be seen on the web not only through online exhibitions, but in various academic historical websites.
One example of serious history on the web is the website we are currently constructing in Public History. Smith even points out that students constructing academic websites is one of the best uses of serious history on the web. We are compiling a variety of sources, including the Fallschase interviews, archived materials, recommended readings, and historical site reviews to construct a narrative about environmental history in the Big Bend. While unfortunately there are bad websites available, our class is embracing technology in order to promote serious history on the web.
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I enjoyed your reference as to how our class is also incorporating the use of media technology in terms of the creation of our environmental history website. While certainly not on the same level or degree as that of Carl Smith’s online exhibit, we are able to more accurately understand the process, obstacles and steps necessary in forming this website in the hope that it will and can be recognized as serious history. In a sense, we are simply scratching the surface with this endeavor, however as future historians who have had the fortunate opportunity to train and study in a more “media friendly” Information Age, my belief is that it is an advantage that will only assist us in our not too distant careers.
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