Open AccessMirage of us: A reflection on the role of the Web in widening access to references on Southern African arts, culture and heritage
Author(s) -
Graham Douglas James Stewart
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
tydskrif vir letterkunde
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.15
H-Index - 5
eISSN - 2309-9070
pISSN - 0041-476X
DOI - 10.4314/tvl.v47i2.60632
Subject(s) - encyclopedia , the arts , subject (documents) , inclusion (mineral) , architecture , world wide web , resource (disambiguation) , section (typography) , library science , sociology , visual arts , computer science , history , media studies , social science , art , computer network , operating system
This article outlines the broad aims of the Encyclopaedia of South African Arts, Culture and Heritage (ESAACH) Project then goes on to consider the ESAACH Website as a networked resource that speaks to the project’s vision of accessibility and participation. The wiki architecture is highly accessible to users and contributors alike. In addition to its robust structure as a reference work, a wiki encyclopaedia facilitates networked social collaboration uniquely suited to the co-operative principles of the project. Subject area specialists will exercise editorial control over the content of the wiki, and work with the Editor-in-Chief, Associate Editors and peer reviewers to assess contributions, recommend editorial corrections, and select articles, essays and entries for inclusion in the printed volumes of the encyclopaedia. The paper surveys existing Web-based reference sources on Southern African literature, arts and culture; provides an account of the evolution of the Verbal Arts section of the ESAACH wiki; and South African literary history discusses the prototype ESAACH wiki.