Decolonizing the Digital in Colonial Latin American Art

In recent years, digital humanities have begun to reshape history art. Methods such as historical mapping, network analysis, and data visualization have not only enhanced our understanding of art history but also underlined crucial questions regarding the influence of digital resources in the field. Art historians have started to focus on such questions with an increased urgency. This session is an opportunity for undergraduate, postgraduate, and early career researchers to come together and discuss how digital art history tools can shed light on issues related to access, knowledge production, and the nuances of studying colonial art.

We’ll be anchoring this session around a thought-provoking essay by Lauren G. Kilroy-Ewbank, “Decolonizing “The Digital” in the Classroom: Reflections on the Intersection of Colonial Latin American Art History and Digital Art History Pedagogy” (Digital Humanities Quarterly, vol. 14, 4, 2020). We’re thrilled to announce that Professor Kilroy-Ewbank will be joining us during the session, adding her invaluable insights and expertise to our discussion. Kilroy-Ewbank has published widely on the art and architecture of the Spanish Colonial Americas. She has been an Associate Professor of Art History at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, and Dean of Content and Strategy at Smarthistory where she was the editor for the highly necessary Reframing Art History Smarthistory textbook.

Please note that this event thrives on active participation and discussion. Whilst there is no obligation to participate, we warmly encourage attendees to come prepared to share their ideas, engage and contribute to the conversation. This collaborative approach enhances the depth and richness of the session and will allow fruitful exchanges with our guest speaker. A link to the reading in question will be circulated to attendees prior to the event.

This event is the third in a new series of reading group initiatives for 2023, exploring fresh perspectives in art history and criticism in a relaxed, inclusive space that hopes to encourage participation, interaction, and an exchange of thoughts.

While this reading group is ticketed (free for members of the Association for Art History, £5 for non-members) we do not want finances to be a barrier to inclusion. Please email us if you cannot afford a ticket or student membership to the Association, and we will book you free of charge, no questions asked.

This series is arranged by the DECR committee of the Association for Art History and is open to all undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as doctoral and early career researchers.