An Interdisciplinary Exploration of the Methods, Goals, and Ethics of Memorialization

Conference Overview

Scholars from many fields develop and study memorials and the process of memorialization. Some scholars work on the contextualization of existing monuments. Others create art installations and educational displays in museums and memorials in public spaces, and still others examine historical trends and the interplay of psychological, cultural, legal, and institutional influences on the memorials themselves, the memorialization process, and how people use and interact with them. But scholarship on the theory and practice of memorialization largely proceeds within specific fields. Fields across the humanities and social sciences (1) have their own methods, goals, and conceptual/theoretical tools, (2) examine different types of cases, and (3) engage with different populations of subjects, partners, and communities. The ethical questions, challenges, and approaches vary along with the nature of the work. This two-day interdisciplinary conference features headline speakers from five disciplines, and includes receptions, meals, and outings. We welcome submissions from any field addressing the ethics, importance, and process of memorials and memorialization.