Let's safeguard our heritage through AV
Ranjan K Baruah *
We know the importance of archives and how it helps for our learning and enhancing knowledge. Archives are important because they provide evidence of activities and tell us more about individuals, communities, institutions, etc.
In simple terms they tell us stories and also increase our sense of identity and understanding of cultures from different backgrounds. Achievers are a must where there is rich traditions and heritage. Archives may be in different forms but one of the important archives in today’s world is audiovisual archives.
We are aware that ‘audiovisual’ or AV is electronic media possessing both a sound and a visual component, such as slide-tape presentations, films, television programs, corporate conferencing, live theater productions, etc.
Its providers frequently offer web streaming, video conferencing, live broadcast services, etc. We have seen the usage of computer-based audiovisual equipment in education, with many schools and universities installing projection equipment and using interactive technology.
There is no doubt that audiovisual archives tell us stories about people’s lives and cultures from all over the world.
They represent a priceless heritage which is an affirmation of our collective memory and a valuable source of knowledge since they reflect the cultural, social and linguistic diversity of our communities. They help us grow and comprehend the world we all share.
Conserving this heritage and ensuring it remains accessible to the public and future generations is a vital goal for all memory institutions as well as the public at large.
The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Archives has launched the project "Digitizing our shared UNESCO history" for the benefit of all.
One of the important things is that one day has been marked for audiovisual and its importance. The World Day for Audiovisual Heritage (WDAH) is a commemoration of the adoption, in 1980 by the 21st General Conference, of the Recommendation for the Safeguarding and Preservation of Moving Images.
The day provides an occasion to raise general awareness of the need to take urgent measures and to acknowledge the importance of audiovisual documents.
This year, WDAH will be celebrated on 27 October under the theme “Your Window to the World”. The celebration is a key initiative for UNESCO and the Coordinating Council of Audiovisual Archives Associations (CCAAA) to honour audiovisual preservation professionals and institutions that safeguard our heritage for future generations.
As a window to the world, audiovisual heritage enables us to witness events we do not attend, listen to voices of the past, and create narratives that inform and entertain. Through the exploration of recorded sounds and visual imagery captured on film and video, we not only gain an appreciation for the cultural wealth but also extract valuable lessons from it.
The challenge is that heritage is now endangered, because sound recordings and moving images can be deliberately destroyed or irretrievably lost as a result of neglect, decay, and technological obsolescence so we must think of alternatives to preserve them and move to new and easy ways using digital technology.
The day is an opportunity for all of us as it reminds us how we can preserve our rich traditions and heritage.
* Ranjan K Baruahwrote this article for The Sangai Express
This article was webcasted on 05 November 2023.
* Comments posted by users in this discussion thread and other parts of this site are opinions of the individuals posting them (whose user ID is displayed alongside) and not the views of e-pao.net. We strongly recommend that users exercise responsibility, sensitivity and caution over language while writing your opinions which will be seen and read by other users. Please read a complete Guideline on using comments on this website.