[Personal_archives] The feeling of memory and other feelings

[Martha Langford]

Alison, the emphasis in your note didn't come through, but I see how we 
misunderstood each other. My point was about the feeling of memory - the 
translation into photographic expression of the state of remembering. A 
photographic work that appears "inclusive and informative" may prompt 
memory, but its chief characteristics bespeak knowledge which summons 
more criticality than exploratory feeling. But the obvious retort is 
that something that appears "inclusive and informative" to you may not 
be so clear to me, and not just because I lack the background or 
contextual data to do the analysis. This is where the punctum trumps the 
studium, and taps into more personal memories. Archivists are 
susceptible to the same subjective, sometimes blinding emotions. And the 
rehearsal of these feelings generally occurs in the public/private realm 
of the reading room.

Nancy,  you've formulated an excellent list of questions in response to 
the reflexivity question Sorry, Rick, to tie you in knots over my choice 
of words, but we were borrowing from sociology where the word is used to 
convey the theory that the presence of the observer influences the 
behaviour that is observed. Translating that into the archives, I would 
suggest that there is no way for an archivist to bring me material 
'neutrally'. Everything, from a professional judgment of my competence 
to process certain kinds of data  to a subjective judgment of my 
entitlement to certain kinds of data - I think that's what Nancy is 
getting at with her list, but I won't put words in her mouth.

I hope this isn't too telegraphic - I feel the end of conversation 
coming nearer and I'm still trying to sketch that in-between space I 
asked about at the beginning. Let me bring Erving Goffman in. Visiting 
researchers know that there is a backstage behind the onstage behaviour 
of the archivist who is advising them. Indeed Alison just confirmed it, 
in her report that selective sharing takes place. So back to my earlier 
question - how's your reflexivity? Do archivists take stock, from time 
to time, of the archival effect? I actually think that's what Nancy is 
doing for us. Other voices may wish to chime in.

Martha