Mirrors are objects which humans use every day on different occasions with the major purpose of reflecting or showing the reverse image. Furthermore, these objects are not necessary for human life or surviving which make an interesting viewpoint: why do people invent and use mirrors? And, do mirrors have influence for understanding ancient societies? They are made from diverse materials (stone, glass, silver, gold, lead, tin, copper, bronze, obsidian and others), have wide range of formats and colors, used around the world from prehistory to today, in different nations and civilization, but their basic task remains the same: reflecting image. Beyond this, mirrors in the past had various purposes and roles. They reflected social and personal identities, moral attitudes, rituals, and were often perceived as religious or magical objects.
This project is conducted for improving digital humanities and interdisciplinary approach to mirror studies. Mirrors can be connective point for different scholars and scientists (for humanities – archaeologists, art historians, anthropologist, ethnologist, philosophers, linguisticians; social scientists, psychologists, cultural theorists; for sciences – physicists, chemists, engineers and many others) which encourage us to make our project relevant for new approaches to mirrors and also, as a online tool for easier research.
Main aims of the project are:
1) Collect and to bring online database about mirrors around the world, to provide an electronic map and search engine to locate locations;
2) Collect historical sources about mirrors from early civilizations to the 19th century in different languages;
3) Collect and to provide a list of publications and other databases of main scholars who are researching mirrors;
4) Organize digital online conferences for young students and early researchers who are interested in mirrors;
5) Make user-friendly and free access to our online database of mirrors;
6) Create additional materials including maps, 3D models, search engines and mobile applications;
7) Make mirror studies as an interdisciplinary academic field.
Project team is the students from Capital Normal University, Beijing, China.
PROJECT BIBLIOGRAPHY
Edited books
Chen Haotian, Khuong H. Tran, Ali Farman (eds.), International Virtual Mirror Studies Conference (IVMSC) 2020: Book of abstract, March 2020 (online edition)
Papers
陈昊天, 法曼阿里, 洪川黄, 高山 (Chen Haotian, Ali Farman, Khuong H. Tran, Goran Đurđević), 全球考古学与数字技术的结合: 地理信息系统、大数据和镜子研究——以罗马帝国的镜子为例 (Global archaeology’s love affair with digital technology: GIS, big data and Mirror Studies – case study of mirrors in Roman Empire) (in press in China) (on Chinese)
Goran Đurđević, Khuong H. Tran, Emiliano Gallaga, Chen Haotian, Ali Farman, Reflexión digital: una introducción al proyecto de Estudios Espejos y la aplicación web desde las perspectivas mesoamericanas (Digital reflection: an introduction to Mirror Studies project and web application from Mesoamerican perspectives) (in press in Mexico) (on Spanish)
Goran Đurđević, Ali Farman, Chen Haotian, Khuong H. Tran, Emiliano Gallaga, Zrcala u obrazovanju: projekt Mirror Studies i edukacijski materijali (The mirrors in education: project Mirror Studies and education materials) Proceedings of 7th International Conference “Vallis Aurea: Focus on Research & Innovation“ 24-26th September 2020, Pozega (Croatia) (in press in Croatia) (on Croatian)
Short articles
Ali Farman, Goran Đurđević, Chen Haotian, Khuong H. Tran, The first mirror studies virtual conference (IVMSC 2020), Etruscan News, January 2021 (in press)
Reports
Goran Đurđević, Chen Haotian, Khuong H. Tran, Ali Farman, International Mirror Studies Virtual Conference 2020: report, Newsletter Mirror Studies, 1, June 2020, (online edition)
Newsletters
Khuong H. Tran, Chen Haotian, Goran Đurđević (eds.), Newsletter Mirror Studies, 1, June 2020, (online edition)
Conferences
Khuong H. Tran, G. Đurđević, A. Farman, Chen Haotian, Global archaeology’s love affair with digital technology: GIS, big data and Mirror Studies, WAC 9, July 5-10 2021, Prague (Czech Republic)
G. Đurđević, A.Farman, Chen Haotian, Khuong H. Tran, Emiliano Gallaga, Zrcala u obrazovanju: projekt Mirror studies i edukacijski materijali, 7th International Conference “Vallis Aurea: Focus on Research & Innovation“, 24-26th September 2020, Pozega (Croatia)
G. Đurđević, Khuong H. Tran, Chen Haotian, A. Farman, Click, collect, reflect: an introduction to Mirror studies project, International Virtual Mirror Studies Conference, March 6 2020, Beijing China
Conference organization
International Virtual Mirror Studies Conference (IVMSC), Beijing and virtual space, March 6 2020