Memory, forgetting and post-colonialism: public representations of the Portuguese colonial empire
Memory, forgetting and post-colonialism: public representations of the Portuguese colonial empire
This research project is focused on social memories of the Portuguese colonial empire within the public sphere in Portugal during the post-colonial period, particularly in Lisbon, which, because of its historical role as capital of the empire, is afforded a central role in the analysis. The aim is to analyse the extent to which the empire continues to provide references with a collective meaning despite the formal termination of colonialism, as well as the role of empire in the construction of national identity.
The research involves three dimensions of analysis: narratives related to "places of memory" in the Portuguese colonial empire; important mnemonic repertoires and subjects in the selected "places of memory"; and representational agents used in activating public memories of empire.
The project will be developed over four years and will use case studies, documentary research, in-depth interviews and direct and participative observation. It will also involve a comparative component as part of a broader project to be developed in collaboration with the University of Manchester under the title "Remembering and Forgetting the Empire: a British-Portuguese Comparison".
Memory, Empire, Post Colonialism, National Identity
This research project is focused on social memories of the Portuguese colonial empire within the public sphere in Portugal during the post-colonial period, particularly in Lisbon, which, because of its historical role as capital of the empire, is afforded a central role in the analysis. The aim is to analyse the extent to which the empire continues to provide references with a collective meaning despite the formal termination of colonialism, as well as the role of empire in the construction of national identity.
The research involves three dimensions of analysis: narratives related to "places of memory" in the Portuguese colonial empire; important mnemonic repertoires and subjects in the selected "places of memory"; and representational agents used in activating public memories of empire.
The project will be developed over four years and will use case studies, documentary research, in-depth interviews and direct and participative observation. It will also involve a comparative component as part of a broader project to be developed in collaboration with the University of Manchester under the title "Remembering and Forgetting the Empire: a British-Portuguese Comparison".
