Mediating Memory in the Museum: Trauma, Empathy, Nostalgia

摘要

When it comes to engaging with and learning about the past, several routes tend to be open to the interested academic or layman. History, archaeology, (paleo)-anthropology, cultural and memory studies, as well as folklore research and an involvement with re-enactment societies interested in 'living history' all offer insights into the historical and cultural 'other'. Whilst these disciplines are clearly defined in their core areas of focus, there is an interesting amount of overlap at the 'edges'. Museums have often served as sites for the exploration of such overlaps, a fact which comes very much to the fore in Mediating Memory in the Museum. With its clear focus on memories of trauma and the social benefits of empathising with victim communities, this book presents a useful exploration of museums as sites of visceral in addition to intellectual knowledge acquisition.