Methods, Sites and Sources for Studying Discourse about Commemoration and Silencing Professor: Jan Marontate Visitors to “The wall”, The Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial designed by Maya Lin in Washington D.C.

Themes Methods for conducting research on collective memory Methods for conducting research on collective memory Archives and other documentary sources; Archives and other documentary sources; –visual images; living traditions; innovations and the culture of the “new”; events and non-events; material culture (objects, artefacts, memorials, built heritage, reconstructions); Memories as mediation & communication Memories as mediation & communication –creation, selection, contextualization, interpretation, reception

Today’s Class 1. Handout #3 and website link website linkwebsite link 2. Discussion of ways of doing research on collective memory & public & private discourse 3. A few case studies as examples 4. Discussion of ideas for projects & planning term project 5. Film screening: “An oral history of SFU: the excitement of the early years”

Possible Sources for Research (Short Reports) Main types of sources: Main types of sources: –Scholarly studies (ex. Published in refereed journals, academic presses or by researchers in government or institutions) of phenomena or experiences of it –Popular media (ex. press coverage, documentaries, fictionalized representations) –First-person accounts –Other records (often in archives) such as documentation generated for other purposes

Conducting research Seek other information on the phenomenon represented. Seek other information on the phenomenon represented. –“facts”, opinions, attitudes, experiences Critically analyze the “fit” between the depiction and documentation about the subject represented. Critically analyze the “fit” between the depiction and documentation about the subject represented. –What does the depiction include and what is left out? –Connections between current/past? –What factors may have influenced the representation? Be sure to discuss both the object of remembrance and the depiction of it in context. Be sure to discuss both the object of remembrance and the depiction of it in context.

Tracking Changes in Collective Memory: An empirical approach (Schwartz 1982) Study of events and persons commemorate in a National Capital Study of events and persons commemorate in a National Capital Theoretical question: how the organization & needs of social groups affect “collective representations” Theoretical question: how the organization & needs of social groups affect “collective representations” Methods: Methods: –Define Measures –Describe Research site –Data collection & analysis Data collection & analysisData collection & analysis –Another

Notion of Mnemonic consensus Rethinking Halbwachs: forgetting as a function of disappearance of groups which “sponsored” memories Rethinking Halbwachs: forgetting as a function of disappearance of groups which “sponsored” memories “hot moments” (Claude Lévi-Strauss) “hot moments” (Claude Lévi-Strauss) Magic & prestige of Origins (Mircea Eliade) Magic & prestige of Origins (Mircea Eliade) –Great moments, great deeds as indicators of the character of a people –But– origins impos discontinuities (Zerubavel)

Relations of Past (Memory) & Present (Schwartz 1982) Reality of past in Present Reality of past in Present –`sanctification of past only if sustained by society’s subsequent interests, needs –BUT– problematic Does that mean there is no ‘Objectivity’ in records of the past Does that mean there is no ‘Objectivity’ in records of the past –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?

Schartz’s Methods & Sources Iconography as a way of commemorating people & events, ex. Abraham Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. Iconography as a way of commemorating people & events, ex. Abraham Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC.Abraham Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC.Abraham Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. Icons Icons –Signs –Sacred Method: classified commemorative monuments by type (pp. 378), period commemorated etc… to identify period most commemorated Method: classified commemorative monuments by type (pp. 378), period commemorated etc… to identify period most commemorated

Case Study of changing place of events and individuals in commemoration & public discourse Barry Schawrtz Abraham Lincoln and the Forge of National Memory link Barry Schawrtz Abraham Lincoln and the Forge of National Memory linklink

Public Discourse, Controversy & Commemoration Article by Robin Wagner-Pacifici & Barry Schwartz Article by Robin Wagner-Pacifici & Barry Schwartz Objective: study processes by which cultural meaning is produced by analyzing a specific case: Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Objective: study processes by which cultural meaning is produced by analyzing a specific case: Vietnam Veteran’s MemorialVietnam Veteran’s MemorialVietnam Veteran’s Memorial Official site Official site Official site Official site Other sites: ex. Search the Wall Other sites: ex. Search the WallSearch the WallSearch the Wall

Other Methods Article by Anna Lisa Tota Article by Anna Lisa Tota Ex. Bologna Massacre in 1980 in Italy Ex. Bologna Massacre in 1980 in Italy –Interviews with survivors (first person accounts) and their families –Study of victim’s family association –Study of other activities: local institutions & pressure groups become “memory authorities”

Changes in Discourse & activities within Mnemonic Communities Bologna case: transition from mourning to moral testimony Bologna case: transition from mourning to moral testimony Merging of family, individual and public memories Merging of family, individual and public memories

An Different Approach in Locating Memory: Photographic Acts (McAllister) Archival research (Japanese Canadian National Archives & Museum Archival research (Japanese Canadian National Archives & Museum Photos of internment camps Photos of internment camps Personal & scholarly perspectives combined in semiotic analysis of photos Personal & scholarly perspectives combined in semiotic analysis of photos

Case Studies of Museum Exhibitions Ex. Amy Fried (September 11 exhibition) or Vera Zolberg (Enola Gay) Ex. Amy Fried (September 11 exhibition) or Vera Zolberg (Enola Gay) Sources: news media, interviews, congressional records etc… Sources: news media, interviews, congressional records etc… Critical analysis of the role of history museums in construction / representation of the past (creation of memories as model for society) Critical analysis of the role of history museums in construction / representation of the past (creation of memories as model for society) Interaction of various stakeholders & political opposition to museological “reflecting the real” Interaction of various stakeholders & political opposition to museological “reflecting the real”

Film Screening An Oral History of SFU: TheExcitment of the Early Years An Oral History of SFU: TheExcitment of the Early Years SFU Retirees Association SFU Retirees Association Media Resource Centre Media Resource Centre Call Number: LE 3 S