Getting the Big Picture: Visitors between Film and Artefacts at Imperial War Museum North

Through a qualitative interview study of The Big Picture Show at Imperial War Museum North in Manchester, UK, this article investigates how conventional audio-visual media such as the film medium places the museum visitor in an experience of an authentic past in museum exhibitions. Thus, focus lies on the interrelation between media, visitor and past. It is argued that use of audio-visual media impacts on the overall narrative, and that the immersive cinematic show among objects has a higher level of interactivity than a regular cinema show. Interviewees explained what role the medium played in their pursue of connecting to the past and the surrounding objects. Furthermore, they reflected upon whether this emotion-evoking communication could be perceived authentic or trustworthy.