The narratives on the category of the “unwanted memory” of traumatic historical events present in Polish museums Cover Image

Narracje dotyczące kategorii „pamięci niechcianej”o traumatycznych wydarzeniach historycznych, obecne w polskich muzeach
The narratives on the category of the “unwanted memory” of traumatic historical events present in Polish museums

Author(s): Magdalena Kędziora
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Fine Arts / Performing Arts, Sociology, Sociology of Culture, Sociology of Art
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego
Keywords: pamięć niechciana; narracyjność; wystawa; Fabryka Emalia Oskara Schindlera; Muzeum Armii Krajowej im. Gen. Emila Fieldorfa „Nila”

Summary/Abstract: The article presents the problem of unwanted memory based on the analysis of narrative exhibitions, conducted in two Kraków museums – the Oskar Schindlerʼs Enamel Factory, which is a branch of The Historical Museum of the City of Kraków, and the Home Army Museum. The Schindler’s Factory permanent exhibition Kraków under Nazi Occupation 1939−1945 presents the fate of Kraków Jews and Poles under Nazi occupation during World War II, as well as the history of the manager and employees of the factory (during WWII bearing the name of Deutsche Emailwarenfabrik). The exhibition in the Home Army Museum presents the history of the Polish Underground State as an armed and ideological formation, and also the history of the Home Army and its named and unnamed soldiers. Both permanent exhibitions are part of a research area of ​​unwanted memory, touching upon a subject which is very difficult for many types of customers, both individual and collective. This issue is still subject to analysis and has no precise definition or clearly defined research methodology. The recurring attempts to define the unwanted memory, in the opinion of the author of the article, are a great chance to create a dialogue between the parties in many current problematic discussions.

  • Issue Year: 17/2016
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 49-65
  • Page Count: 17
  • Language: Polish