University of Bristol

15-17 September 2011

Programme | Abstracts

It is twenty years since the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the beginning of the transition to democracy in Eastern Europe. Nonetheless, the impact of the state socialist past can still be felt in those countries previously under Soviet influence or control. In recent years, the legacy of socialist dictatorship and its impact on the post-socialist present have received considerable attention in a variety of disciplines: amongst others, cultural, literary, media and museum studies, history, anthropology and political science. The boom in interest in (individual, cultural, social and collective) memory has seen the development of a range of theoretical and methodological tools with which we can approach the impact of national history or histories on politics, society and culture. Nonetheless, most of this work has taken place in isolation, within one disciplinary area or focusing on a single geographical location. Working from a comparative approach that crosses both disciplinary and geographical borders, this conference asks for a (re)evaluation of the processes of coming to terms with state socialist pasts in post-socialist contexts. We aim to examine the impact of memories of dictatorship on policy-making, social interactions and the production of cultural artefacts (e.g., literature, film, museums and memorials) and to initiate a dialogue between researchers working in very different fields.

The Registration form is now available to download which includes information on accommodation. Online registration is now available using the University of Bristol Online Shop.  Two products have been added to the shop, one relates to registration and conference fee; the other is for University accommodation.

For details of venues, please see the University of Bristol precinct map.  Further information on Clifton Hill House and hotels is also available.

If you have any queries regarding the conference please contact rememberingdictatorship@gmail.com

Conference organisers:   Dr Sara Jones and Dr Debbie Pinfold

Events open to the Public include:

Thursday 15 September 2011

Performance of a play by Jeras Naco and Shannon Woodcock Here we found the bodies…and now where is justice?

18.30-20.00 Lady Windsor Studio Theatre, University of Bristol Students’ Union

The play is about oral histories of political execution in communist Albania and edited from interviews conducted by Shannon Woodcock with child survivors of the Albanian dictatorship, whose parents were executed by the regime.

Friday 16 September 2011

Literary reading by Carmen-Francesca Banciu

20.30-22.00 Clifton Hill House

Reading by Romanian writer Carmen-Francesca Banciu (in translation). Banciu's works draw on her experiences as a dissident living under Ceausescu. Her texts touch upon the themes of trauma, revolution, the Securitate and coming to terms with the past, including the role of the secret police files.

Saturday 17 September 2011

Film showing and discussion - Ian Hawkins, My DDR T-Shirt

14.00-15.30 Clifton Hill House

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