Foundations
On November 22, 1985, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft established the Collaborative Research Centre 240 (Sfb 240) "Aesthetics, Pragmatics, and History of Screen Media" at the University of Siegen. Start of work was on January 2, 1986, and conclusion on December 31, 2000. The aim was to study the theory, history, and aesthetics of screen media regarding their forms of presentation and their roles of action. Initially media research was focused on the aesthetical and historical aspects of television. But in their capacity as "new media", text and database systems were incorporated in the research programme as well. During the Sfb 240's tenure, 33 subprojects were concluded in all. With more than 2,000 publications the Collaborative Research Centre participated intensely in basic media research.

Due to the expiration of the Sfb 240, it became necessary to preserve the valuable research materials and findings that had involved considerable expenditure, and to make them available for further research. Beside the physical archiving, it was essential not only to present the computer science concept of a "media studies workstation" as a prototype but to implement it in such a way that it could be used as an archiving and working system for media research (see illustration).

Apart from the extensive written materials and various databases the workstation includes more than 8,000 transmissions that were - due to existing contracts - provided by archives for the purpose of analysis. The selection of materials created by the subprojects' working requirements makes it unique. It is the sole media resources centre of this quality and scope in Germany.

Tasks
Three Net-access workstations for scholars are already in operation and are used by university scientists and by former Sfb 240 staff members for final academic papers. These workstations are available to the Institute for Media Research and the Humanities Collaborative Research Centre 615 "Media Upheavals" as "workbenches" providing the adequate hardware and software for appropriate research projects. Tasks involving the media studies workstations are as follows:

1. Maintenance and utilisation of the physical material in Siegen and, on request, for other research groups;
2. Supply of front-ends for the use of database material in-house, of the materials and databases of the Network partners, and of the server for use in-house and by partners;
3. Further implementation of the tools of the "media studies workstations";
4. Partial digitalisation of materials, on demand respectively as part of ongoing work, in accordance with existing legal basic conditions;
5. Research for content development of videotapes and for further tool development and implementation in order to secure and analyse motion picture materials and texts.

Media Resources
Since the Collaborative Research Centre "Screen Media" focused on exploring the history of German television, particularly historical broadcasting material containing miscellaneous genres were gathered: television plays, movies, political and cultural as well as youth magazines, newscasts, theatre and opera performances, children's and young people's programmes, art programmes, etc. The material subdivides into the following categories:

1. Videotapes,
2. Files (analytical material on programmes and programme concepts, magazine articles and research literature),
3. Databases (literature and programme databases, etc).

The databases of the subprojects, research literature selected from the Sfb 240, and the stock of videotapes are accessible at the media studies workstations.

Contact:

Universität Siegen
Digitale Mediathek
Medien- und Kulturhaus Lÿz
D-57068 Siegen
www.sfb240.uni-siegen.de/english/

Project head:
Prof. Dr. Helmut Schanze
Tel.: +49 (0)271 740-4933
E-Mail: schanze@sfb240.uni-siegen.de

Staff:

Dr. Susanne Pütz
Tel.: +49 (0)271 740-4931
E-Mail: puetz@sfb240.uni-siegen.de

Georg Rademacher M.A.
Tel.: +49 (0)271 740-4931
E-Mail: georg.rademacher@sfb240.uni-siegen.de

© 2002-2008 Netzwerk Mediatheken / Network of Multimedia Resource Centres