Film Screening and Discussion: Objects and Memory
The Objects and Memory film screening and discussion is co-sponsored by the Department of History and the Department of Judaic and Near East Studies.
Objects and Memory is a documentary film about how we preserve the past and speak to the future all the time. It's about how we move forward through difficult times - like the ones we are currently experiencing - by thinking about what is truly important to us. We preserve and offer objects that represent our identity, experiences, and aspirations, as anchors in turbulent waters. Moreover, when faced with upheaval, there is a strong human urge to join together with others for a common good. These are the themes of Objects and Memory, and they are illuminated with experiences in the aftermath of transformative American experiences: 9/11, the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, and the Vietnam War.
The director of the film, Jonathan Fein, will be present at the screening, offering introductory remarks and fielding questions. Fein's previous work includes the award-winning documentary Journeys to Peace and Understanding and the Emmy Award-winning series 4Stories.
Judaic and Near Eastern Studies Department Chair James Young, who served on the jury for the World Trade Center Site Memorial and is featured in the film, also plans to be on hand to answer questions.
Objects and Memory is sure to be of interest to anyone working on memory, commemoration, modern US or global history, museums and collections, material culture, oral history, or documentary filmmaking, and to anyone with a general interest in contemporary history.
This event, presented by the Program of Public History and the Department of Judaic and Near Eastern Studies, is free and open to the Five College community.
To learn more about the film, please visit www.objectsandmemory.org.
