The Lessons of Counterpoint: Wolfgang Ernst’s Media Archaeology and Practical Archival Research

The work of German scholar Wolfgang Ernst has become increasingly influential within media archaeology. Ernst has sought to define a border between the field and traditional media history, arguing that media archaeologists should focus on the study of technological artefacts and processes. He places significant stress on the importance of media archives yet his approach to such institutions is primarily theoretical. Meanwhile, the theoretical basis for some types of media archive research is somewhat lacking. This raises the possibility of whether cross-pollination between media archaeology and these fields might prove mutually beneficial. This paper examines aspects of Ernst’s writings alongside material from a recent archival project focused on a Northern Irish television series to provide an overview of the possibilities.