John Barleycorn Must Die: The War Against Drink in Arkansas
Arkansas became “dry” even before national prohibition became a reality in 1920. For the exhibit John Barleycorn Must Die, Eidson exhibits these short documentaries via an interactive touch-screen kiosk.
The kiosk features interviews with subject experts such as guest curator Ben Johnson, associate professor of history at Southern Arkansas University.
The kiosk also offers pages of information including a glimpse of artifacts from both the “wets” and the “dries”. Briefcases that were used to disguise illegal alcohol, stills, temperance propaganda, cautionary car plates, political memorabilia, anti-drinking posters, and others all enable Eidson’s creative storytelling.
The tale is enhanced with motion graphics, video production, and programming, all of which are combined in this fun interactive video kiosk.