My item of digitalization is one of my favorite novels, Twenty Thousand Leagues under The Sea by Jules Verne. The book was published June 20, 1870. Its format is a physical object. As a description. It is slender, floppy paperback, blue cover of a submarine and giant squid. I chose this object because of how much I enjoyed reading as a kid and still enjoy stories. Specifically, I love adventure stories, Indiana Jones, Tintin, The Mummy, etc. The narrative format of a mission to find an object or otherwise from a time and place away from the present we do not understand has always enthralled me. I find the genres inclination for action visually pleasing and stimulating. The novel itself is also a short and swift read. It may also speak to broader histories as the story is not contemporary. The fact someone from the present, myself, can still read this book more than one hundred years later and still be enthralled speaks to a timelessness Verne captured. I am also a certified scuba diver and find the ocean quite fascinating. Verne captures the wonder and alienlike quality of the underwater world that speaks to the scuba diver in myself.
Tag: Digitization
CANON R8 MIRRORLESS CAMERA
For my Meta Data lab I wanted to use my CanonR8 Mirrorless Camera, I have used a stock photo of the item so you would be able to see it in its most basic form. The camera was created and mass produced by Canon, a large Japanese based company that focuses on producing photo/video based devices along with other technological advancements. I bought this camera in December of 2024, however I bought it used and the camera was originally created a purchased in 2023. It is a digital still photography and video based camera. This camera shows the evolution of digital photography which has become even more digital. A mirrorless camera is the next step from a DSLR, literally removing the mirror from your camera, instead using a sensor to detect what is in front of the camera. Allowing it to be lighter and easier to carry around for long periods of time, it also allows for better video capabilities.
I major in Mass Communications with a focus in video production, and I plan on finding a career in the entertainment industry as a cinematographer working on film or television. I have recently started using this camera on a 30-minute short film I am shooting with a group of other Mass Comm students as a sort of passion project. I love film specifically, and being able to start learning more about the industry and get more used to the environment of it through working this camera has been a satisfying and exciting experience for me personally.
I’ve also included some footage I have recently shot with this camera (unedited), as part of the short film I discussed earlier, this is just a small snippet that we filmed recently.
Title: Girls Like Us
Creator: Randi Pink
Date: Published in 2019
Format: Paperback book
Description: This book holds personal significance because it reignited my love for reading. After a period of not engaging with books as much, Girls Like Us reminded me of the power of storytelling and the way literature can connect us to different perspectives. The novel explores the experiences of four young women navigating teenage pregnancy in the 1970s, shedding light on themes of choice, agency, and societal expectations. Beyond my personal connection, the book speaks to broader histories of reproductive rights, gender roles, and the struggles that young women have faced across generations.
Title: Pendant Cross
Creator: Unknown
Date: Handed on October 24th, 2022
Format: Gold cross necklace
Description:
This pendant cross was given to me from my mother. It was originally her grandmother’s necklace, and she passed it to her. So, the cross is like a generational gift. It’s important to me because it’s something that my mom values as well, and it reminds her of her own grandmother, and keeping up with it is also important. Since she has given it to me, I’ve rarely taken it off from around my neck, and sometimes I even forget that it’s still there, but when I look at it, it reminds me of my great grandmother since it was her necklace. The necklace itself is almost 100 years old.
Title: iPhone 13
Creator: Apple Inc.
Date: Released September 24, 2021
Format: Smartphone, aluminum and glass body, digital touchscreen
Description:
My iPhone 13 is more than just a phone, it’s a tool that connects me to the world, stores my memories, and helps me navigate daily life. I use it to communicate, capture moments, and access information instantly. It’s significant to me because it holds personal photos, messages, and notes that document my experiences. Beyond its personal value, the iPhone represents the evolution of mobile technology and how smartphones have reshaped modern communication, entertainment, and productivity.
Apple’s iPhone line has played a major role in the history of technology. The first iPhone, released in 2007, revolutionized the way people interact with the internet and each other. This device speaks to a broader history of innovation, globalization, and the increasing reliance on digital tools in everyday life.
Bringing my iPhone to class highlights how something so common can also be deeply significant. It’s a personal object, but it also represents a larger cultural shift toward digital dependence, convenience, and constant connectivity. Whether for work, school, or leisure, this device has become an essential part of my routine, much like it has for millions of people worldwide.
Meta data:
- Title: Howlite Bracelet
- Creator: Unsure (Market bought)
- Date: May 8th, 2022
- Format: Rock-bead bracelet
- Description: A pearly white bracelet made of howlite to represent resilience, purity, and comfort.
This bracelet is a gift I bought for my mom on Mother’s Day in 2022. I had a weird kick for wearing bracelets, and I thought twinning with my mom would be pretty cool. She loved it, and would wear it pretty often, which was more than enough for me. Unfortunately, she has passed, and I don’t many tangible items that represent her well, but I do have this bracelet. I don’t believe in rocks having energy or anything like that but they’re supposed to signify resilience; so with my mom being the strongest and most hardworking woman I knew, I felt it was an accurate representation of who she was as a person.
Who knew my past self was good at encapsulating someone’s character in a gift? Not me!
I chose to look at one of my favorite books from my childhood, and a series that is considered to be a gateway of sorts into fantasy: Eragon by Christopher Paolini. It also helps that part of my job is creating individual item records to match with a parent item for library cataloging, so this feels very familiar, as I mostly looked at the publishing information that libraries use for their Marc reord catologing.
Metadata:
- Title: Eragon
- Creators:
- Author: Christopher Paolini
- Item Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Books, a division of Random House, Inc.
- Original Publisher: Paolini International, LLC
- Jacket Illustration: John Jude Palencar
- Date:
- Published: August 2003
- Original Text Copyright: 2002
- Format: Hardcover Book
- Description:
- A hardcover book, with a dustjacket. The dustjacket is blue, and on the front includes a drawing of a blue dragon, with the text ERAGON in gold embossing. The back of the dustjacket includes bestseller lists, and quotes about the book from different sources. The book has 509 numbered pages, with some illustrations included. The book was published specifically for teens, and was placed in the categories: Fantasy, Dragons, and Fiction. It is the first book in the Inheritance cycle. The bibliographic summary of the book is as follows: “In Alagaësia, a fifteen-year-old boy of unknown lineage called Eragon finds a mysterious stone that weaves his life into an intricate tapestry of destiny, magic, and power, peopled with dragons, elves, and monsters.”
- Title – HP Pavilion x360
- Creator- Hewlett- Packard
- Date- 2024
- Format- Physical Object
- Description- This laptop that I have been using on a daily basis since the beginning of 2024 has significant value to me. Once my old HP had stopped working, I had to replace it and buy a new computer. I trust HP very much just due to the fact all my desktops I have owned have been HP and even old computers I’ve used. This current laptop has been with me through so many different assignments and places. It’s something that I keep on me just as much as my phone. This laptop has experienced sometimes where I have dropped it and made slight dents but for the most part it has been there with me through the thick of assignments. The fact that I can run as many tabs as possible and create a folder on top of the tabs to make room for more has been a big help while using this. Being able to fold it back and create a more minimalistic and sleeker look really makes me enjoy this HP laptop each day I use it.
Pick an item of significance to you. This should be something that you can bring to class on the 24th. Create some metadata for it, including a robust description that explains its significance to you and how it might speak to broader histories.
Metadata to include:
- Title
- Creator
- Date
- Format
- Description
Add your metadata to a blog post, which (in total) should be at least 200 words. Add the tag “Digitization” before you publish. Don’t forget to bring the item with you