Old devices can counteract the obsolescence of objects in new contexts. The rapid development of digital media is also contributing to an upswing in new possibilities for analog cameras. And accessories that were once lost are being produced again in very small batches using 3D printers. While the necessary niche knowledge can be easily acquired, for example in internet forums, such expertise remains largely untapped as a resource.
This project sees itself as an intermediate between practices of archiving analog film devices with historical and future forms of use with a focus on knowledge preservation. We want to develop answers and possibilities that go beyond the provision of space and resources and contribute to bringing these old devices back to life and/or continuing to use them. In addition to an interest in film and media studies, the project also has a strong connection to practice, as a wide variety of collections, collectors and devices will come together. This requires transdisciplinary methods based on praxeology, ethnography, production studies and cultural technology research.