RATIONALE & OBJECTIVES

The interdisciplinary workshop on Archives and Collective Memory aims to examine and problematize the association of archives with collective memory. In particular, we endeavor to open up the “black box”—to borrow French sociologist of science Bruno Latour’s term—of archives as collective memory and to trace how this relationship has been mediated and constructed not only in the field of archives, but also in various other disciplines. Faculty and graduate students from Michigan engaged in collective memory studies are scattered across the various programs, disciplines and departments of the University. The workshop endeavors to gather together these scholars to foster collaboration and encourage free exchange of perspectives and ideas.  Some of the questions that we wish to pursue include: What characteristics of archives and records make them easily associated with collective memory? How does collective memory function and how does this mechanism relate to archives?  How have scholars constructed the idea of archives as collective memory? In what context are they drawing this association?

As an intellectual field, collective memory studies has been noted to be quite diverse, encompassing wide-ranging intellectual perspectives and academic disciplines. The exploration of collective memory and archives demands an interdisciplinary approach since these fields have been appropriated in various disciplines as varied as literary studies, history, sociology, anthropology, information, art, museum, film and mass media, and cultural and heritage studies. Many of these fields also touched upon the nature or records and archives in various ways, great or small, deliberately or otherwise. Consequently, these new engagements, re-appropriations and reconfigurations of archives generated reactions from among those who are engaged in archival education and practice. Many archivists and archival thinkers are steadily examining, and more frequently challenging, the traditionally held rules, practices and beliefs that govern the profession. Some are seeking alternative practices of recordkeeping or uncovering the various notions and meanings of the record. Others attempt to situate archives with power, knowledge production and its relationship with other collecting traditions. There is also a growing movement towards looking at archival practices vis-à-vis underrepresented and marginalized communities. As an academic discipline, archival studies is expanding, incorporating the methods and perspectives of multidisciplinary fields. At this juncture, it will be fruitful to map out the interaction of collective memory studies, archives and the various disciplines that interrogate both areas.