CALL FOR PAPERS
Kindertransport Research Workshop: Narratives, Archives and Educational
Resources
An interdisciplinary workshop organised by the Centre for German-Jewish
Studies to be held at the University of Sussex on 11 and 12 June 2003
The Centre for German-Jewish Studies, supported by a grant from the
British Academy, is undertaking a two-year pilot study entitled 'The
Kindertransport Children: Identity, Adaptation and Trauma', focusing on
the construction of identity as a fluid process of continuous
interaction between past and present, aspiration and memory. The primary
sources are the personal documents and autobiographical narratives
produced by Kindertransport children. To encourage cooperation with
other researchers in this field, the Centre is organising a workshop to
explore the interrelationship between authorship, autobiographical
materials, educational and archival strategies, and academic analysis.
Offers of further papers are invited on the following themes and
questions:
Narrative and Methodological Questions: How do we devise a specific
methodology for the study of these texts? How far can we integrate our
study of autobiographical narratives by Kindertransportees with
contemporary autobiographical theory? How helpful are comparisions with
memoirs by child survivors of the Holocaust, or indeed by members of
other groups of child refugees? A further question is the relationship
between 'fact' and 'fiction', highlighted by W. G. Sebald's Austerlitz.
Educational Resources: In the last ten years Kindertransport narratives
have been used as a resource in Holocaust education. Has this been a
successful educational strategy? What are the advantages and
disadvantages using such texts? What role do visits by eyewitnesses and
authors of texts play in these educational situations? Has the response
in German schools been significantly different from that in Britain?
Archival Strategy: The compilation of a database listing existing
autobiographical resources forms part of the Centre's pilot study. What
use is currently being made of these collections, particularly the
papers deposited at the Wiener Library? What further measures are needed
in order to preserve this heritage and encourage research?
The workshop will include an Open Forum to encourage discussion between
researchers and members of the Kindertransport generation.
To facilitate the exchange of ideas about work-in-progress, papers
should not exceed twenty minutes. Please send a synopsis of your
proposal (maximum 500 words) by 15 April 2003 to Andrea Hammel, Research
Coordinator for the Kindertransport Project, Centre for German-Jewish
Studies, University of Sussex Library, Brighton BN1 9QL
([log in to unmask]).
Andrea Hammel
Research Coordinator
Centre for German-Jewish Studies
University of Sussex Library
Brighton
BN1 9QL
Tel +44 (0)1273 877178
Fax +44 (0)1273 877174
For further information please visit our website:
www.sussex.ac.uk/Units/cgjs
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