Methods, Sites and Sources for Methods, Sites and Sources for Studying Discourse about Studying Discourse about

Commemoration and SilencingCommemoration and Silencing

Professor: Professor:

Jan MarontateJan Marontate

Visitors to “The wall”, The Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial designed by Maya Lin in Washington D.C.

ThemesThemes Methods for conducting research on Methods for conducting research on

collective memorycollective memory Archives and other documentary Archives and other documentary

sources;sources;– visual images; living traditions; visual images; living traditions;

innovations and the culture of the “new”; innovations and the culture of the “new”; events and non-events; material culture events and non-events; material culture (objects, artefacts, memorials, built (objects, artefacts, memorials, built heritage, reconstructions);heritage, reconstructions);

Memories as mediation & Memories as mediation & communicationcommunication– creation, selection, contextualization, creation, selection, contextualization,

interpretation, reception interpretation, reception

Today’s ClassToday’s Class

1.1. Handout #3 and Handout #3 and website linkwebsite link

2.2. Discussion of ways of doing research on Discussion of ways of doing research on collective memory & public & private collective memory & public & private discoursediscourse

3.3. A few case studies as examples A few case studies as examples

4.4. Discussion of ideas for projects & planning Discussion of ideas for projects & planning term projectterm project

5.5. Film screening: “An oral history of SFU: the Film screening: “An oral history of SFU: the excitement of the early years”excitement of the early years”

Possible Sources for Research Possible Sources for Research (Short Reports)(Short Reports)

Main types of sources:Main types of sources:– Scholarly studies (ex. Published in refereed Scholarly studies (ex. Published in refereed

journals, academic presses or by researchers in journals, academic presses or by researchers in government or institutions) of phenomena or government or institutions) of phenomena or experiences of itexperiences of it

– Popular media (ex. press coverage, Popular media (ex. press coverage, documentaries, fictionalized representations)documentaries, fictionalized representations)

– First-person accountsFirst-person accounts– Other records (often in archives) such as Other records (often in archives) such as

documentation generated for other purposesdocumentation generated for other purposes

Conducting researchConducting research

Seek other information on the phenomenon Seek other information on the phenomenon represented.represented.– ““facts”, opinions, attitudes, experiences facts”, opinions, attitudes, experiences

Critically analyze the “fit” between the depiction and Critically analyze the “fit” between the depiction and documentation about the subject represented. documentation about the subject represented. – What does the depiction include and what is left out?What does the depiction include and what is left out?– Connections between current/past? Connections between current/past? – What factors may have influenced the representation? What factors may have influenced the representation?

Be sure to discuss both the object of remembrance Be sure to discuss both the object of remembrance and the depiction of it in context.and the depiction of it in context.

Tracking Changes in Collective Tracking Changes in Collective Memory: An empirical approach Memory: An empirical approach (Schwartz 1982)(Schwartz 1982) Study of events and persons commemorate in a Study of events and persons commemorate in a

National CapitalNational Capital Theoretical question: how the organization & needs Theoretical question: how the organization & needs

of social groups affect “collective representations”of social groups affect “collective representations” Methods:Methods:

– Define MeasuresDefine Measures– Describe Research siteDescribe Research site– Data collection & analysis Data collection & analysis – Another Another

Notion of Mnemonic Notion of Mnemonic consensusconsensus

Rethinking Halbwachs: forgetting as a Rethinking Halbwachs: forgetting as a function of disappearance of groups which function of disappearance of groups which “sponsored” memories“sponsored” memories

““hot moments” (Claude Lhot moments” (Claude Lévi-Strauss)évi-Strauss) Magic & prestige of Origins (Mircea Eliade)Magic & prestige of Origins (Mircea Eliade)

– Great moments, great deeds as indicators of the Great moments, great deeds as indicators of the character of a peoplecharacter of a people

– But– origins impos discontinuities (Zerubavel)But– origins impos discontinuities (Zerubavel)

Relations of Past (Memory) & Relations of Past (Memory) & Present (Schwartz 1982)Present (Schwartz 1982)

Reality of past in PresentReality of past in Present– `sanctification of past only if sustained by `sanctification of past only if sustained by

society’s subsequent interests, needssociety’s subsequent interests, needs– BUT– problematicBUT– problematic

Does that mean there is no ‘Objectivity’ in records of Does that mean there is no ‘Objectivity’ in records of the pastthe past

– Two opposing views: Two opposing views: Noting contingent about our understanding of the past?Noting contingent about our understanding of the past? Past is contingent on our understandings of it today?Past is contingent on our understandings of it today?

SchartzSchartz’s Methods & Sources’s Methods & Sources

IconographyIconography as a way of as a way of commemorating people & commemorating people & events, ex. events, ex. Abraham Lincoln Memorial iAbraham Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC.n Washington DC.

IconsIcons– SignsSigns– SacredSacred

Method:Method: classified classified commemorative commemorative monuments by type (pp. monuments by type (pp. 378), period 378), period commemorated etc… to commemorated etc… to identify period most identify period most commemoratedcommemorated

Case Study of changing place of Case Study of changing place of events and individuals in events and individuals in commemoration & public discoursecommemoration & public discourse

Barry Schawrtz Barry Schawrtz Abraham Lincoln and Abraham Lincoln and the Forge of National the Forge of National MemoryMemory linklink

Public Discourse, Controversy Public Discourse, Controversy & Commemoration& Commemoration Article by Robin Wagner-Pacifici & Barry Article by Robin Wagner-Pacifici & Barry

SchwartzSchwartz Objective: study Objective: study processesprocesses by which cultural by which cultural

meaning is produced by analyzing a specific meaning is produced by analyzing a specific case: case: Vietnam Veteran’s MemorialVietnam Veteran’s Memorial

Official siteOfficial site Other sites: ex. Other sites: ex. Search the WallSearch the Wall

Other MethodsOther Methods

Article by Anna Lisa Tota Article by Anna Lisa Tota Ex. Bologna Massacre in 1980 in ItalyEx. Bologna Massacre in 1980 in Italy

– Interviews with survivors (first person accounts) and their Interviews with survivors (first person accounts) and their familiesfamilies

– Study of victim’s family associationStudy of victim’s family association– Study of other activities: local institutions & pressure Study of other activities: local institutions & pressure

groups become “memory authorities”groups become “memory authorities”

Changes in Discourse & activities Changes in Discourse & activities within Mnemonic Communitieswithin Mnemonic Communities

Bologna case: transition from mourning to Bologna case: transition from mourning to moral testimony moral testimony

Merging of family, individual and public Merging of family, individual and public memoriesmemories

An Different Approach in An Different Approach in Locating Locating Memory: Photographic Acts Memory: Photographic Acts (McAllister)(McAllister) Archival research Archival research

(Japanese Canadian (Japanese Canadian National Archives & National Archives & MuseumMuseum

Photos of internment Photos of internment campscamps

Personal & scholarly Personal & scholarly perspectives combined in perspectives combined in semiotic analysis of semiotic analysis of photosphotos

Case Studies of Museum Case Studies of Museum ExhibitionsExhibitions

Ex. Amy Fried (September 11 Ex. Amy Fried (September 11 exhibition) or Vera Zolberg exhibition) or Vera Zolberg (Enola Gay)(Enola Gay)

Sources: news media, Sources: news media, interviews, congressional interviews, congressional records etc…records etc…

Critical analysis of the role of Critical analysis of the role of history museums in history museums in construction / representation of construction / representation of the past (creation of memories the past (creation of memories as model for society)as model for society)

Interaction of various Interaction of various stakeholders & political stakeholders & political opposition to museological opposition to museological “reflecting the real”“reflecting the real”

Film ScreeningFilm Screening

An Oral History of SFU: TheExcitment of the An Oral History of SFU: TheExcitment of the Early YearsEarly Years

SFU Retirees AssociationSFU Retirees Association Media Resource CentreMedia Resource Centre

Call Number: LE 3 S82 072 2005.Call Number: LE 3 S82 072 2005.