Doing Memory Research: New Methods and Approaches

From the ‘memory boom’ and ‘memory wars’ through to current debates about tradition, heritage and identity, the politics of memory is a timely and urgent matter. So far, however, the rich, interdisciplinary field of memory research has reflected too little on questions of method and approach. What are some of the latest directions in memory research? And how can researchers practice and adapt these new methods?

This afternoon, we will celebrate the book launch of Doing Memory Research (Palgrave, 2019) in SPUI25, which showcases scholarly contributions from diverse disciplinary backgrounds across the humanities and social sciences, including literature studies, media studies, history, archaeology, and artistic research through to geography, sociology, digital ethnography and the digital humanities.

The editors of the book, Carolyn Birdsall and Danielle Drozdzewski will discuss some of the new directions in the field, and their own explorations with soundwalking and digital sound analysis when researching Dutch commemorative practices on 4 and 5 May, such as the Silent March (Stille Tocht) in Amsterdam. They will be joined by special guest, Tess Osborne (University of Birmingham / University of Groningen), whose work reflects on the possibilities for cross-disciplinary innovation in memory research with the aid of wearable video and bio-sensors. Following a short presentation and roundtable, the discussion will be moderated by Carolyn Birdsall.

About the speakers

Carolyn Birdsall (moderator) is Assistant Professor of Media Studies, University of Amsterdam, where she also directs the ASCA Cities Project.

Danielle Drozdzewski is a Senior Lecturer of Human Geography, University of Stockholm, whose research focuses on memory, place and identity, with a particular interest in migration and mobility studies.

Tess Osborne is currently completing her PhD dissertation “Embodying Heritage: A Biosocial investigation into emotion, memory and historical landscapes” at the University of Birmingham, and will commence a new position at the University of Groningen in 2019.

Registration

You can sign up for this program for free. If you subscribe for the program we count on your presence. If you are unable to attend, please let us know via [email protected] | T: +31 (0)20 525 8142.