Technological Revolutions and Art History, Part Three: Thomas Flynn

“Developments in Online 3D Visualization”
Thomas Flynn, Sketchfab

During the last ten years or so, the ability to publish interactive 3D experiences online has become simpler and more widespread. As this ability has been discovered by artists, commercial companies, and cultural organizations alike, new use cases for online 3D are being tested, developed, and deployed. This presentation will highlight some existing examples of the benefits of combining 3D with the power of the internet and look to possibilities for the future of the medium.

Historically, science and the humanities were not considered two discrete disciplines: the separation of these two branches of knowledge developed only in the modern era. For art historians in the twenty-first century, this divide is only widening as some scholars embrace technological advances while others remain unconvinced that computational techniques and tools can bring meaningful changes to the field. Like the previous symposium “Searching Through Seeing: Optimizing Computer Vision Technology for the Arts” hosted by the Library in 2018, this four-part event seeks to encourage art historians to connect with the computer sciences by exploring the role that technology has played in the development of the discipline of art history and providing an opportunity for conversation and the exchange of ideas.

Presentations in Part III of the symposium will explore the ethics of digitization and how issues regarding access and discoverability impact research in art history. Speakers will critically examine how technologies, from 3D modelling to artificial intelligence, have the potential to expand audience engagement with cultural heritage institutions and their collections yet also, ironically, limit understanding and community connection by omitting context, introducing bias and legal restrictions, and problematizing concepts of ownership and authenticity.