The work of the Present Histories Research Cluster works across four strands, each with three modes of engagement.
Strands
STRAND 1: (Re)claiming/disputing the past:
on the relationship of historical research to conflicting perspectives on the past, and the claims made upon the past in the present
STRAND 2: Representing the past:
on public and private representation of the past, exploring ideas and practices of preservation, commemoration, legacy, and heritage
STRAND 3: Documenting the past:
on the ways in which evidence itself is produced, accessed, analyzed and valorized, and how the archive both speaks and silences
STRAND 4: Reconciling past and present:
on the articulation of continuance and resilience in the face of trauma and violence, and the multiple legacies of the past that must speak to the idea and practice of reconciliation
Modes of EngagEment
We aim to support work that embraces the intimate relationship between research and pedagogy.
We seek to catalyze the integration of historical modes of thinking with the Arts, and creative ways of thinking about the past, recognizing the role that the creative has in shaping our understanding and experience of the past
We are committed to research impact beyond academia and embrace work in and with the community/communities as a primary mode of engagement with our work.