Working in archives is indeed “the bread and butter” of the historian. Before they go there for the first time however, hardly any student of history has got a thorough understanding of how archives function and what they represent. Thus, for many it turns out to be a quite intimidating experience, because one can all too easily get lost as one rarely has a definite starting point, let alone a proper map for the first descent. On the other hand, some archives offer guided tours that leave their visitors with a feeling of crossing the thresholds to the halls of the past, imbuing them with a sense of awe before all of that stored evidence.
The conventional notion of the archive has generally been of a place where evidence about past events is being preserved for present and future generations. This implied the assumption that the primary sources uncovered from the archive were to be treated like impartial witnesses, capable of producing objective knowledge about the past, as long as they were interpreted according to historical methodology. Starting from the assumption that such a conventional idea of the archive is very much outdated, the project of “Refiguring the Archive” is to “bring to bear on `archive´ an interrogation similar to that which concepts like `canon´ or `orientalism´ have undergone” and to “develop our understanding of the circumstances of the creation of the archival record”.
In order to understand why the above described notion of archive is outdated in the post-modern world and to see the necessity of interrogating “circumstances of the creation of archival record”, it proves helpful to remember some of the origins of such questioning. In 1967, Richard Rorty published an anthology with the title “The Linguistic Turn. Recent Essays in Philosophical Method”. Whereas Immanuel Kant had been the first philosopher to formulate the boundaries of human reason, the linguistic turn represented a consequent application of Kant’s ideas, since the limits of our thinking are in fact determined by the limits of our language.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction: The Historian and the Archive
2. Theoretical Foundations: The Linguistic Turn and Archives
3. The Project: "Refiguring the Archive" as Discourse
4. Structure and Themes of the Compilation
5. Epistemological Implications for Archivists
6. Deconstruction: Derrida, Psychoanalysis, and the Archive
7. Conclusion: The Archive as an Open Construction
Objectives and Topics
The primary objective of this review essay is to examine the theoretical shift in the understanding of archives, moving from a view of archives as neutral, objective repositories of historical truth to a post-modern conception of archives as constructed spaces. It explores how power relations, language, and interpretation shape the archival record and the role of the archivist in social memory.
- The linguistic turn and its impact on historical epistemology
- Deconstruction of the "archive" as a neutral medium
- The role of the archivist in power dynamics and social exclusion
- Transformation of archives in post-apartheid contexts
- Psychoanalytic perspectives on "archive fever" and the death drive
Excerpt from the Book
Review Essay: “Refiguring the Archive”
Working in archives is indeed “the bread and butter” of the historian. Before they go there for the first time however, hardly any student of history has got a thorough understanding of how archives function and what they represent. Thus, for many it turns out to be a quite intimidating experience, because one can all too easily get lost as one rarely has a definite starting point, let alone a proper map for the first descent.
On the other hand, some archives offer guided tours that leave their visitors with a feeling of crossing the thresholds to the halls of the past, imbuing them with a sense of awe before all of that stored evidence.
In my very first semester of studying history at the University of Freiburg, I was taken on such a tour to a department of the German Federal Archives there. Two women took care to render us a lively presentation of their work place. They displayed yellowed historical military maps, let people read out aloud out of tattered war diaries, guided us through a laboratory where people in white coats and safety goggles tried to restore sources that had been damaged by mildew, fire or extinguishing water. The style of their presentation resulted in an image of the archive as a mixture of laboratory and treasure chest. A place where the secrets of the past were locked and waiting for historians to come and reveal them.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The Historian and the Archive: Discusses the traditional, often intimidating experience of historians entering archives for the first time and the common misconception of the archive as a simple treasure chest of facts.
2. Theoretical Foundations: The Linguistic Turn and Archives: Explores how Rorty’s linguistic turn and Kantian philosophy challenge the idea of language as a neutral medium, framing the archive as a system that requires interpretation.
3. The Project: "Refiguring the Archive" as Discourse: Provides background on the 1998 University of the Witwatersrand conference and the diverse artistic methods used to demonstrate an extended concept of the archive.
4. Structure and Themes of the Compilation: Details the three-part structure of the book, covering theoretical frameworks, practical power relations in recording, and the broadening definition of the archive.
5. Epistemological Implications for Archivists: Examines the ethical and epistemological shift for archivists, who must move from claiming objectivity to acknowledging their role as active shapers of social memory.
6. Deconstruction: Derrida, Psychoanalysis, and the Archive: Analyzes the influence of Jacques Derrida’s "Archive Fever" and the application of psychoanalytic concepts like the "death drive" to archival practice.
7. Conclusion: The Archive as an Open Construction: Summarizes the book's core argument that archiving is not about discovering one final truth, but about affirming the constructed nature of history.
Keywords
Archives, Historiography, Linguistic Turn, Deconstruction, Jacques Derrida, Archive Fever, Social Memory, Epistemology, Power Relations, Apartheid, Provenance, Psychoanalysis, Historical Discourse, Interpretation, Archivist.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of the work?
The work focuses on the deconstruction of the traditional view of the archive as a neutral, objective repository and instead explores it as a constructed space influenced by discourse, power, and interpretation.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The key themes include the impact of the linguistic turn on historical practice, the role of archivists in power relations, the ethics of inclusion and exclusion, and the influence of psychoanalytic theory on archival research.
What is the main goal of the research?
The goal is to develop a better understanding of the circumstances under which archival records are created and to challenge historians and archivists to interrogate the epistemological foundations of their work.
Which scientific methods are employed in the compilation?
The book utilizes post-modern theoretical frameworks, specifically deconstructivist approaches, intertextuality, and the analysis of discursive practices rather than traditional, source-based historical narrative.
What core topics are addressed in the main sections?
The main sections cover theoretical questioning, the practical realities of power relations in archiving (referencing post-apartheid South Africa), and the broad institutional definition of archives inspired by Michel Foucault.
Which keywords best characterize this publication?
The publication is best characterized by terms like historiography, archival power, deconstruction, social memory, and epistemological critique.
How does the book connect the concept of "archive fever" to archival practice?
The book uses Derrida’s "archive fever" to link the human compulsion to store and preserve information to an intrinsic "death drive," suggesting that the desire for memorization is inextricably linked to the process of forgetting.
What practical changes are suggested for the modern archivist?
Archivists are encouraged to acknowledge their role as active shapers of social memory rather than neutral keepers, shifting focus from "content value" to "provenance" and working to ensure the inclusion of marginalized voices.
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- Arndt Schmidt (Autor:in), 2008, Review Essay Refiguring the Archive, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/189023
