Reconstructing Transnational History

Abstract

Web-based interactive documentaries offer an innovative approach to reconstructing history, allowing users to explore historical content within a specific thematic context freely. This paper explores how transnational shared history, exemplified by World War I (WWI), is integrated into such documentaries, using the interactive documentary A Global Guide to the First World War (2014) as a case study. This documentary, a collaboration between the Guardian, historians, and the Imperial War Museum, employs interactive technologies and transnational historical narratives. It presents seven video chapters that allow audiences to explore WWI from a global perspective, going beyond the traditional single-narrative viewpoint. The interactive sections are based on a well-designed digital world map that provides users with diverse perspectives on the war, facilitating a broader emotional resonance. However, while ensuring authenticity, the documentary's use of authoritative narrative strategies tends to create a sense of alienation among viewers. It underscores the importance of incorporating personal narratives alongside official histories to foster deeper engagement and understanding. The paper argues for a more nuanced approach that balances the authoritative historical narratives with individual perspectives. This study demonstrates that the representation of transnational shared history and multiple perspectives is highly compatible with the interactive technology of web documentaries. The paper concludes that these digital platforms can effectively facilitate global understanding of shared historical events while encouraging critical and dialectical historical reflection.