Participatory Cultures of Remembrance in a Comparative Perspective:
Three Case Studies of Shifting Communities in North America, Europe and Asia (1980s-2020s)

Supposing that participatory modes of commemorating forge new and foster established bonds of community, my postdoc project examines spaces, actors, practices and effects of memory in three case studies in an international comparative perspective. Approaching commemorations as both representations of civic identity and hidden agenda, the sub-project will analyze participatory memory practices in three examples of shifting communities: post-colonial communities (communities of colour) in the USA, diaspora communities of Tamils in Switzerland and post-communist communities in East Germany.

During my stay at the ZZF I will focus on the research on the memory culture of the latter. In recent years, complex and changeable forms of remembering the GDR past have emerged, demonstrating that shifting memory patterns are arising. Not only historians and publicists but also (East German) citizens and political protagonists have their say, and thus participate in the design process of spaces of remembrance. The question of how a diverse East German public produce a self-determined culture of remembrance with national significance and with what impact is the central object of investigation in this case study. How has this changed since 1989 and what role do social, generational, and political aspects play in these shifts?

During her stay at ZZF Dr. Anne Schillig researches in the Department Public History.