# War Poems: Critical race theory and database narrative in digital public histories

> creative work by Dana Coester, Joel William Beeson

**Wikidata**: [Q132203730](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q132203730)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/war-poems-critical-race-theory-and-database-narrative-in-digital-public-histories

## Summary  
War Poems: Critical race theory and database narrative in digital public histories is a 2014 creative work by Dana Coester and Joel William Beeson that explores themes of critical race theory through digital public history. It is classified as electronic literature and utilizes database narratives, combining historical inquiry with interactive digital storytelling. The work was developed using Adobe Flash, HTML, and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS).  

## Key Facts  
- **Authors**: Dana Coester and Joel William Beeson.  
- **Publication Date**: 2014.  
- **Genre**: Electronic literature.  
- **Platform**: X (as per elmcip ID 10026).  
- **Software Engine**: Adobe Flash.  
- **Programming Languages**: Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), HTML, and Q2005 (Adobe Flash).  
- **Instance Of**: Creative work, exhibit, web page, and application.  
- **ELMCIP ID**: 10026.  
- **Language**: English.  

## FAQs  
### Q: Who created War Poems: Critical race theory and database narrative in digital public histories?  
A: The work was co-authored by Dana Coester and Joel William Beeson.  

### Q: What technologies were used to create the project?  
A: It was built using Adobe Flash, HTML, and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS).  

### Q: What is the primary focus of the work?  
A: It examines critical race theory through digital public histories, employing database narratives and interactive elements.  

## Why It Matters  
War Poems stands at the intersection of digital humanities and critical race studies, demonstrating how technology can reimagine historical narratives. By leveraging platforms like Adobe Flash and web technologies (HTML, CSS), the project makes public history accessible and interactive, challenging traditional storytelling formats. Its use of database-driven narratives highlights the potential of digital tools to uncover marginalized voices and systemic inequities, contributing to broader discussions about representation in historical scholarship. As a work of electronic literature, it also showcases innovation in form and content, pushing boundaries in both academic and creative fields.  

## Notable For  
- **Interdisciplinary Approach**: Combines critical race theory, digital public history, and electronic literature.  
- **Technical Innovation**: Utilizes Adobe Flash, CSS, and HTML to create interactive database narratives.  
- **Classification**: Recognized as a web page, application, exhibit, and creative work, reflecting its multifaceted design.  
- **Collaborative Authorship**: Co-created by scholars in digital media and public history.  

## Body  
### Creation and Authors  
War Poems was developed in 2014 by Dana Coester and Joel William Beeson. Coester and Beeson are credited as authors, with their contributions referenced through elmcip ID 10026. The work is categorized as a creative work, exhibit, web page, and application, emphasizing its hybrid nature.  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Software Engine**: Built using Adobe Flash, a platform prevalent in early interactive web content.  
- **Programming Languages**:  
  - **Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)**: Used for styling web elements.  
  - **HTML**: Provided structural content.  
  - **Q2005 (Adobe Flash)**: Enabled interactive and animated components.  
- **Platform**: Identified as "X" in elmcip records, though specific platform details remain unspecified.  

### Genre and Themes  
The work falls under the genre of **electronic literature**, focusing on:  
- **Critical Race Theory**: Analyzing systemic racism and historical marginalization.  
- **Database Narrative**: Organizing historical data into nonlinear, interactive storytelling formats.  
- **Digital Public Histories**: Making historical content accessible through digital platforms.  

### Publication Context  
Published in 2014, War Poems reflects early 21st-century experiments in digital humanities. Its use of Adobe Flash situates it within a specific technological moment, as Flash was widely used for interactive media before its decline in the late 2010s. The project’s reliance on CSS and HTML underscores its web-native design, prioritizing user engagement and visual storytelling.