In the wake of the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, and the Conservative Government's attempt to impose a maximum sentence of 10-years for vandalising statues, we speak with academics Natasha Danilova and Adam Elliot-Cooper on the national histories constructed through memorials and statues, and the spaces of reconstruction opened up by their removal.
The discussion covers a wide range of themes, including the different interest groups involved in the creation of war memorials; the lack of public discussion around commemoration and who gets to be remembered; how commemoration presents a sanitised version of history that blocks controversial discussions around Britain's colonial past; what a meaningful process of decolonisation might look like; and what other forms of remembering might emerge within a framework of social justice.
Adam's new book is published by Manchester University Press.
You can find more information on Natasha's work here.
Music by Esion Noise [www.esionnoise.com]
ForcesWatch is a small organisation funded by grants and donations. All contributions - no matter the size - can make a huge difference. If you want to support our work then please click the link below.
In the wake of the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, and the Conservative Government's attempt to impose a maximum sentence of 10-years for vandalising statues, we speak with academics Natasha Danilova and Adam Elliot-Cooper on the national histories constructed through memorials and statues, and the spaces of reconstruction opened up by their removal.
The discussion covers a wide range of themes, including the different interest groups involved in the creation of war memorials; the lack of public discussion around commemoration and who gets to be remembered; how commemoration presents a sanitised version of history that blocks controversial discussions around Britain's colonial past; what a meaningful process of decolonisation might look like; and what other forms of remembering might emerge within a framework of social justice.
Adam's new book is published by Manchester University Press.
You can find more information on Natasha's work here.
Music by Esion Noise [www.esionnoise.com]
ForcesWatch is a small organisation funded by grants and donations. All contributions - no matter the size - can make a huge difference. If you want to support our work then please click the link below.