Detailed project information

Title	:	From Grain to Pixel: Theorising Film Archival Practice in a Time of Transition from Analogue to Digital Technology
Applicant	:	Prof. dr. F.E. Kessler
Research institute	:	Universiteit Utrecht Faculteit Geesteswetenschappen Theater-, Film en Televisiewetenschap
Team members	:	Dr. G. Fossati
Duration	:	05/01/2007 tot 09/05/2008
Finance	:	Eur 45.500
Subsidy	:	Secondment Grant in the Humanities

Summary

Media are in a state of transition as technology moves from analogue to digital. This process profoundly affects both the practice of film archiving and the theoretical discourse within film and media studies. Despite its crucial importance, the dialogue between archivists and academics is unfortunately scarce at the moment.

This project will address the question whether the ongoing transformation in technology is introducing a fundamental change in the nature of film. In particular, it will discuss whether and how the debate on the ontological status of film will affect the function of film museums in the future.

To do so, this research will attempt to bridge the still estranged fields of archival practice and academic research. It will explore the current debate in media studies and it will analyse and compare some of the most innovative recent restoration cases in relation to the relevant players in the field.

On the basis of the above, a novel theorisation of archival practice will be proposed.

Keywords: film theory; new media theory; film archive; digital technologies; film restoration