The politics of memory

1. The politics of memory Ray Edmondson

2. Memory • Memory is the faculty of the brain by which information is encoded, stored, and retrieved when needed. • Memory is vital to experiences, it is the retention of information over time for the purpose of influencing future action.[1] If we could not remember past events, we could not learn or develop language, relationships, or personal identity.[2] • Documents, produced and preserved over time, are the primary means of knowledge creation and expression…

3. History History (from Greekἱστορία, historia, meaning 'inquiry; knowledge acquired by investigation')[2] is the past as it is described in written documents, and the study thereof.[3][4] Events occurring before written records are considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term that relates to past events as well as the memory, discovery, collection, organization, presentation, and interpretation of information about these events. Scholars who write about history are called historians.

4. History is written by the victors – attributed to Winston Churchill • History is an unending dialogue between the present and the past – E. H. Carr

5. Memory of the World (MoW) • UNESCO uses the concept of memoryinstitutions – not history institutions - to collectively describe archives, libraries, museums and similar bodies, including audiovisual archives. • MoW’s concern is with the preservation and accessibility of primary sources, not with their interpretation or the resolution of historical disputes, in which it does not take sides. • Documentary heritage comprises those single documents – or groups of documents – of significant and enduring value to a community, a culture, a country or humanity generally, and whose deterioration or loss would be a harmful impoverishment. UNESCO Recommendation concerning the preservation of, and access to, documentary heritage including in digital form (2015)

6. Principles • The right to know implies that archives must be preserved [and measures taken] to prevent any removal, destruction, concealment or falsification of archives….access to archives should also be facilitated in the interests of historical research, subject to reasonable restrictions aimed at safeguarding privacy… formal requirements governing access may not be used for purposes of censorship. - United Nations Human Rights Council (2009) • …believing in full and equal opportunities for education for all, in the unrestricted pursuit of objective truth, and in the free exchange of ideas and knowledge…. - UNESCO constitution

10. Plus treaty of waitangi

11. The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906)

12. Donation of Constantine

13. The Protocols of the Elders of Zion

14. Fairies at the bottom of the garden

16. What about the losers?

18. Voices of the “comfort women” Participating institutions from • China • Indonesia • Japan • Netherlands • Philippines • Republic of Korea • Taiwan • Timor Leste • United Kingdom

19. History, principles, ideas, case studies and debate: key aspects and recent developmentsIntended to spark debate and researchhttps://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030184407#aboutBook

20. Australian map of the world

21. Thank you