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The Modern State of Digital Decay

Nutter, Catherine
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Genre
Conference paper
Date
2025-02-25
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Committee member
Group
Oklahoma State University
Department
History
Subject
Motion pictures
 Motion picture film--Preservation
 Motion picture film--Storage
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https://scholarshare.temple.edu/handle/20.500.12613/11026
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Barnes Conference
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Nutter-ConferencePaper-2025.pdf
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DOI
https://doi.org/10.34944/2D77-V893
Abstract
Documentation of important moments in American culture are being lost due to the improper storage and decay of film. Upon the fortieth anniversary of the moon landing, NASA realized that they had made a mistake, they recorded over the original moon landing tapes. The United States embarked on a multiyear search that spanned the globe, but they were unable to find an intact copy of the landing. A similar problem also affected the first Superbowl. NBC and CBS, the two networks that simulcast the first Superbowl both recorded over the original tapes with soap operas. In the early 2000s, a recording of the first Superbowl was found in an attic, and it is the only known copy. The problem is that the tape was stored improperly and was damaged by humidity as a result. Improper storage of film during the twentieth century posed a major risk to the preservation of the material produced during that time. Important tapes showing events that matter to world history are at risk. Digitalization is one possible answer to the problem, but it also has downfalls. One problem with digitalization is technology can still fail. Server banks can fail or be damaged by things such as water. There is no clear solution as to the correct way to preserve film for future generations, but one thing is clear. Action must be taken to keep the media of the past from decaying and being lost.
Description
A paper presented at the 30th James A. Barnes Graduate History Conference, which took place March 14-15, 2025 in Philadelphia, PA.
Citation
Nutter, Catherine. "'The Modern State of Digital Decay." Paper presented at 30th James A. Barnes Graduate History Conference, Philadelphia, PA, March 2025.
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