Changing Tides: Interpreting Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade in European maritime museum - Sarah Giersing

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The information presented holds significant value for museology and public history. Giersing offers a rare, candid account of how a national museum deals with the challenges of interpreting a sensitive colonial past. The argumentation is built on concrete examples and honest reflection, avoiding defensiveness. She effectively demonstrates the tension between educational engagement and ethical responsibility, using the computer game as a central case. Her points about the necessity of multi-vocal narratives and the role of who tells the story are well supported through the interventions she describes. The argument could be strengthened by more comparative context with other countries and actual visitor data, but the self-critical approach lends credibility.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The presentation relies primarily on the speaker’s professional experience and the museum’s internal processes rather than external scholarly sources. No specific academic references or publications are cited, which limits the verifiability of some claims. However, the historical facts mentioned, such as Denmark’s involvement in the slave trade and the 2017 centennial, are well-known and accurate. The title precisely matches the content: it is indeed about interpreting the trans-Atlantic slave trade in a European maritime museum, and the ‘changing tides’ aptly symbolizes the shift in public awareness and institutional response. While the talk does not provide formal citations, its transparency about the museum’s own flaws and uncertainties adds a layer of intellectual honesty that partially compensates for the lack of external sourcing.

The title accurately reflects the content: a discussion on interpreting the trans-Atlantic slave trade in a European maritime museum, with the 'changing tides' metaphor fitting the changing public awareness and institutional response.

7/10

Provides a candid, reflective case study from a museum professional, grounded in direct experience and contextualized historically, though lacking external citations.

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

• 00:30Introduction: Sarah announces she will share an uncomfortable case of an exhibit growing out of date.
• 02:00Describes the 2013 exhibition on 500 years of Danish maritime history, with a small section on the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
• 04:30Explains the computer game simulating trade, where players could buy and sell enslaved people, and its popularity.
• 07:00Mentions occasional complaints about the exhibit's Eurocentrism and the gamification of human trafficking.
• 10:00Discusses the shift after the 2017 centennial of the sale of the Danish West Indies, leading to internal discussions.
• 13:00Describes actions taken: removing the game, adding handouts with voices from former colonies, and mixed reception.
• 15:00Concludes with plans for new exhibitions and acknowledges the unresolved challenge of presenting a more inclusive narrative.