Voices at the Margins? Cultural Memory Theory and Methodology Summer School
20th Sep 2021 12:00am - 24th Sep 2021 12:00am
OPEN CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS
A burgeoning, cross-disciplinary “memory boom” has
highlighted the significance of memories of the past for the present and
future. In this context, this interdisciplinary, workshop-based
summer school explores the
timely, yet under-addressed themes of memories and histories ‘at the margins’
and specifically focuses on the theoretical and methodological challenges
associated with research that engages with such ‘marginal’ voices. We invite PhD researchers from
all disciplines working with such memories, voices and histories to apply for Voices at the Margins?, taking place 20 – 24 September 2021
at the University of Brighton.
‘At the margins’ is a phrase we have
adopted here to refer to the multifarious forms of experiences and spaces that
have traditionally remained at the periphery of public and scholarly attention.
Such ‘margins’ can be the result of power dynamics that under-recognise,
marginalise, exclude, silence and/or oppress specific groups or members of
society. Additionally, voices, memories and histories can also be located at
the peripheries of societal discourses as they are or have become unacceptable
in respective dominant political and cultural contexts that foster the
circulation of some ideas and stories over others. Yet, while some agents are
forced to the ‘margins’, others choose to locate or remain there. With this
summer school we want to challenge the problematic and universalist assumptions
of ‘giving’ voice to the ‘unheard’ or ‘voiceless,’ by raising questions about
who ‘they’ are, who ‘hears’ and does not ‘hear’ them, and why. In this context,
we invite participants to reflect on notions of ‘marginality’ in their own work
and how this affects the methodologies and theories they develop in their own
study of cultural memory.
In this sense, the workshops that make
up this summer school offer PhD researchers space to critically engage with the
specific theoretical and methodological challenges in their research in a
constructive and supportive environment. The workshops will offer rich
opportunities for in-depth discussions of participants’ own research, as well
as for an exploration of new state-of-the-art theoretical and methodological
approaches in the field, based on participants’ own needs and interests. The
summer school will evolve around the following four key components:
- Research workshops based on
participants’ research on memories, histories and voices ‘at the margins’:
Participants will be asked to submit papers for discussion in advance and to present
them during the workshop
- Workshops on cultural memory theory and methodology related to ‘voices at the margins’ led
by the organisers, which will evolve around themes, topics and issues of
interest to the participants
Examples: Difficulties of ‘hearing’/‘seeing’
in the archive, in (oral history) interviews and in exhibitions; entrapments
between transnational/global and local/community histories/memories; research
ethics when working with ‘voices at the margins’; emotions in memory/history
research on sensitive topics
These are, however, just some examples.
In order to design workshops that are relevant to your research process, we would like to know your interests and needs
when it comes to theoretical and methodological approaches researching ‘voices
at the margins’. Therefore, applicants are asked to submit a short description of themes, topics and issues they would like to explore with the
application.
- A keynote lecture
by Dr Leyla
Neyzi, Leverhulme Trust Visiting Professor and
Research Fellow in History at the University of Glasgow and Professor (on
leave) in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Sabanci University,
Istanbul. Her lecture (Re)considering ‘Voices at the Margins’ through
Multimodal and Experimental Ethnography will be open to all.
- An excursion to an exhibition [TBA]: The visit will be an opportunity
to reflect on how voices can be used, displayed, interpreted, represented
and/or marginalised in exhibition displays.
APPLICATION
To
apply for the summer school, please send your application to voicesatmargins@gmail.com by 19 April 2021 including:
- An abstract of ca. 300–500 words:
Introducing the aspect(s) of your research you would like to present and
explore with us, including the challenges/difficulties you have been facing in
the research process. This can, of course, also be work-in-progress.
- A
short description of themes, issues and
topics related to memories, histories
and voices ‘at the margins’, both theoretical and methodological, you would like
to explore with us in the workshops
The deadline for applications is 19 April 2021. You will be informed about your
acceptance in early May. You will be asked to submit your written papers
approximately 1-2 months before the summer school so that we can circulate them
among all participants.
We are currently planning the summer
school as an offline face-to-face event at the University of Brighton, potentially
with some hybrid elements. Should the Covid-19 situation not allow us to
proceed with these plans, the event will take place online.
Accommodation is self-organised; Techne
students can reclaim their expenses from Techne. Please state in your
application if you are a Techne student.
We look forward to receiving your
applications and learning more about your research!Should you
have any questions, please contact us at voicesatmargins@gmail.com
For
further information, visit: voicesatmargins.wordpress.com
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Convened by PhD researchers:
Martha Beard, University of
Brighton
Laney Lenox, Ulster University
Áine McKenny, University of
Brighton
Syma Tariq, University of the Arts
London
Vanessa Tautter, University of
Brighton
Artwork
by Petra Kostevc
