Named after the small red sticker that once guided scholars through legacy 35mm slides, The Red Dot is here to help you navigate the ever-evolving landscape of visual and material research. While rooted in the University of California, Santa Barbara community, our posts are open to all.
At MIRL, we engage with art history, digital humanities, and material culture through hands-on research and archival projects. Guided by our core principles—critical engagement with visual and material culture, ethical stewardship of images and data, and innovative approaches to research and pedagogy—we work at the intersection of technology and the humanities. We are especially interested in how digital tools can expand the study of images, objects, and spaces.
Here, we’ll share insights on Digital Art History and Architectural History, highlight new image and data resources, discuss copyright and ethical considerations, and spotlight events that shape our field.
The Red Dot © 2025 is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0
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When to put a building to bed
There’s an interesting debate in the New York Times about when/if it’s okay to demolish buildings that may have aesthetic or historic significance. The debate was sparked by a controversy over whether or not a government building with numerous structural flaws (at left) in New York state could/should be torn down. Those who argue to… Read more
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Ancient Borderlands conference April 13-14, 2012
The Ancient Borderlands Research Focus Group at UCSB has announced the Third Ancient Borderlands International Graduate Student Conference: Conflict, Consensus, and the Crossing of Boundaries in the Premodern World. The conference is scheduled for Friday, April 13 from 3:00-5:30 pm and Saturday, April 14 from 9:45 am-6:00 pm in the McCune Conference Room, HSSB 6020.… Read more
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Google Art just keeps on growing
Just over a year ago we reported on the Google Art Project, which at the time had around 1,000 works from 17 museums. According to the Google blog there are now over 30,000 high resolution works, from museums all over the world. They also have 360-degree panoramic views of gallery interiors, and a growing… Read more
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New Google Street Views of the Amazon and Russian Highlights
Google Street View, which in the past created the Google Art Project, now offers the armchair tourist two new areas to explore: the Amazon River and Rain Forest or famous Russian buildings and parks. The unveiling of the Amazon collection coincides with World Forestry Day (March 21) and World Water Day (March 22) 2012 and… Read more
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Getty announces Conserving Modern Architecture Initiative (CMAI)
Among the Getty Conservation Institute‘s current projects is the Conserving Modern Architecture Initiative (CMAI), “a comprehensive, long-term, and international program…to advance the practice of conserving twentieth-century heritage, with a focus on modern architecture.” This includes the Eames House (Case Study House No. 8; photo above), but the CMAI website includes an image gallery and related… Read more