If we were to create an archive of Edmonton, what five things would I choose to include?
I can honestly say that the reason I have delayed this weeks blog post until now is not due to a hectic schedule (even though that is the reality at the moment), or even sheer laziness, it is because I have no idea how to answer the question.
Since there are different degrees of materials that are deemed worthy of being included in an archive its hard to say what would be relevant or important enough to include. However if I were to contribute to an Edmonton archive I much prefer the approach of the archive at 10 Garneau as imagined in Todd Babiak’s novel The Garneau Block. The objects in their archive derive their importance from their “mythic power,” objects with personal histories that speak to living in Edmonton. And when these items are brought together they create an image of the city and its inhabitants, linking past and present; the personal and the public. I love the notion of personal experience being translated through an object and shared creating a common history. I also encountered the issue of coming up with things that have personal relevance, that have significantly shaped me in some way, but that is also distinctly Edmontonian. Many of the items that I hold dear are specific to me as an individual but don’t necessarily contribute to the city. As of right now I can only come up with two things that speak to me as an individual and things that speak to my idea of Edmonton:
1) Folk Fest wristband or program
2) The issue of the Gateway where my first piece was published
But if by some miracle I come up with some brilliant ideas I’ll be sure to post them to the blog.
Interesting that you chose items to archive with significant personal importance! Now looking at what I wrote it seems like my choices were based more on what I thought Edmonton meant to other people.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking as someone who wants to do this for a living -- I agree with you that personal objects holding "mythic power" are as important to an official or public archive as things that supposedly belong to the city as a whole. You can stick a picture of, say, bridge construction in a musty drawer somewhere and say "this is important to the city", sure, but given the fact that everyone experiences things -- in this case, a city -- in a unique way, we shouldn't discount these things as being lesser just because they're not official. Common histories are shaped by individual experiences, I think. Though I'd also say that even though you say the personal items don't contribute to the city -- well, no, not the items specifically, but the stories behind them do, because they add to the common history. Or something.
ReplyDeleteAnd yeah, my first Folk Fest volunteer badge would totally go in any personal Edmonton archive I'd create. Changed my life for the better, that.