Cooking up some XML

During one of our classes I wrote in my notes “we discover what print was (is) as we discover what digital can be”. I find that fascinating. That each of these mediums can continue to be explored by different disciplines, and that each discipline (and individual) might find different perspectives, emphasize different aspects, and represent different elements is very interesting. I find it fascinating that encoding decisions impact the experience of the text, thus compelling the encoder/s to be thoughtful about both the audience and purpose of the encoding.  Also interesting is how to encode ambiguity, how to represent form and content and how they interrelate.

Our group has chosen to encode a letter written by Mary Queen of Scots; however, each group member had considered other ideas. For example, I love reading recipes for pleasure, and it’s hard to find someone more passionate about cooking and food. I did a Google search for Julia Child’s archives, which are held by Harvard's Schlesinger Library's culinary collection.  

Below are two documents that I thought would have been an interesting encoding challenge.  

Child's sketch for the set of "The French Chef" is very interesting to me for many reasons. Has she ripped a piece of paper out of a notebook? Was she making this in collaboration with other people?  Where was she was she was making these notes? How do you capture the momentum and energy and passion of these documents? What kind of dining scenario was she thinking of when she prepared this document? 

The recipe is for the omelette noted at the bottom of the page. The typewritten page is annotated in Child's handwriting, and gives the reader insight into her process and ideas as they evolve. These two documents are certainly linked.

I look forward to the group encoding experience. 

See the collection here:

http://www.radcliffe.harvard.edu/schlesinger-library/collection/julia-child