The Tenement Museum was very fun and compelling. It colored my view of the historical period we were studying during that time of the semester. Even though we did not see the main suite, it was an amazing opportunity to be in such a well replicated space. I found that being within this space was very different from watching a film or looking at photos in a classroom. Our guide gaves us personal insight into the story of the matriarch of the home we were in. It was immersive to hear about her life when within the replica of her space.

I was struck by our discussion about how colorful the interior was. Hardly any historical periods are represented with lots of color in art. Film directors are usually inclined to use a sepia tone over everything to convey the historicity of the scene. I remember that Carty mentioned that this was a sort of artistic lens. That cinematic language easily informs the viewer that you are watching a period piece of some kind. We often only get the chance to view history through a cinematic lens, and it was refreshing to get away from that. Watching a documentary or period drama, looking at a slide show, or even reading a book would not sufficiently replace the unique chance to be inside the physical space.