War, Silence and Memory in Modern Britain

[JimSmithson]

Just alerting anyone interested to this conference. Here is a copy of the letter from Dr Lucy Noakes, School of Humanities, University of Brighton, UK

Individuals, communities and societies all ‘remember’ wars. Forms of remembering include state sponsored memorials and acts of remembrance, spontaneous, collective acts of commemoration such as those seen recently at Wootton Bassett and the preservation of photos, objects and stories within the family. However, alongside these acts of remembering are silences; gaps in our shared remembrance of warfare and a reluctance to articulate traumatic and often difficult memories.

The aim of this day conference is to explore the ways in which memories of war shift over time. Memory is never fixed but is open to change, as, for example, figures who were once nationally mourned slip from view and previously marginal or largely forgotten events gain the centre ground.

Organised by the Royal Marines Museum, Portsmouth and the Centre for Research in Memory, Narrative and Histories, University of Brighton to mark the Royal Marines Museum exhibition ‘Why Stay Silent?’ this conference examines the processes by which aspects of wartime are remembered and forgotten.

Focusing on the memory of war in 20th and 21st century Britain and with papers exploring remembrance of conflict in the media, in museums, by individuals, by societies and by communities seeking post-conflict reconciliation, this conference addresses the ways in which individuals, communities and societies remember and sometimes forget wars across a range of sites of memory.

Tickets: £40 Adults, £20 Student Concession, includes buffet lunch. One day conference at the Royal Marines Museum, Southsea (View Map <http://www.royalmarinesmuseum.co.uk/newweb/?page_id=5> ), Weds 9th February 10am-4pm.

For tickets book online <http://www.royalmarinesmuseum.co.uk/acatalog/Museum_Admission_Tickets.html> or call 023 9281 9385 for more information.

Confirmed Speakers

Professor Penny Summerfield,

University of Manchester

Dr Dan Todman,

Queen Mary, University of London

Dr Stefan Goebel,

University of Kent

Dr Emma Vickers

University of Reading

Dr Petra Rau,

University of Portsmouth

Jane Furlong

Imperial War Museum

Ellie O'Keefe

Queen Mary, University of London

Dr David Jackson,

Independent Scholar

Gabriel Koureas

Birkbeck College, University of London

A tad expensive but if maybe someone has a special interest in this area. Not exclusively GW of course but very relevant coming up to 100 years.

Jim