Sites of Conscience
Place, Memory, and the Project of Deinstitutionalization
Linda Steele editor Elisabeth Punzi editor
Format:Paperback
Publisher:University of British Columbia Press
Published:15th Nov '24
Should be back in stock very soon
Into the twenty-first century, millions of disabled people and people experiencing mental distress were segregated from the rest of society and confined to residential institutions. Deinstitutionalization – the closure of these sites and integration of former residents into the community – has become increasingly commonplace. But this project is unfinished. Sites of Conscience explores use of the concept of sites of conscience, which involves place-based memory activities such as walking tours, survivor-authored social histories, and performances and artistic works in or generated from sites of systemic suffering and injustice. These activities offer new ways to move forward from the unfinished deinstitutionalization project and its failures. Covering diverse national contexts, this volume proposes that acknowledging the memories and lived experiences of former residents – and keeping histories and social heritage of institutions alive rather than simply closing sites – holds the greatest potential for recognition, accountability, and action.
ISBN: 9780774869331
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
360 pages