Contested Spaces: representation and the histories of conflict
An international conference
Faculty of Arts and Architecture, University of Brighton, 19-20 November
2004

Contested spaces conference opens up a cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary
discussion about the spaces and sites where divided histories of conflict
are powerfully present. It engages with debates that are not only relevant
to the academic community but also to those responsible for the management
of historic environments, including policy-makers, heritage professionals,
curators, political and community activists, who are acutely aware of the
importance of the creative and critical practices of history-making to the
processes of conflict resolution.

How should the histories of conflict be recorded, represented and
remembered? How do these histories relate to the politics of conflict
resolution? Should the places that are bound up with conflict be preserved,
altered and re-used or destroyed? What versions of history should be the
subject of representation? What kinds of historical knowledge can be
revealed and should be inscribed at sites of conflict? And, who is the work
of representation and preservation for? Is it possible to develop and
sustain critical practices that acknowledge historical differences?    

Contested spaces has been organised to coincide with the exhibition of
Donovan Wylie's The Maze, a photographic project initiated and supported by
the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television and Faculty of Arts
and Architecture at the University of Brighton. The Maze will be showing at
the University's Gallery throughout November 2004. The vacated structures of
the Maze/Long Kesh, a prison that has been called an 'icon' of the Northern
Ireland conflict, foregrounds questions of representing the experience and
memory of violence, repression, occupation, conflict and the processes of
creating peace.  
The Maze exhibition provides an important opportunity for discussion of
these issues and for reflection upon how they are addressed by people
working different international contexts. Contested spaces brings together
archaeologists, artists, art historians, cultural historians, curators,
documentary film-makers, oral historians, writers and those working in the
field of political, international and tourism studies.

Speakers
Jim Aulich (Centre for the Study of Location, Memory and Visuality,
Manchester Metropolitan University); Graham Dawson (School of Historical and
Critical Studies, University of Brighton); Sean Field (The Centre for
Popular Memory, University of Capetown); Gerd Knischewski and Ulla Spittler
(School of Language and Area Studies, University of Portsmouth and School of
Languages, University of Brighton); Debbie Lisle (School of Politics and
International Studies, Queens University, Belfast); Tony Pollard
(Archaeological Research Division, University of Glasgow);  Louise Purbrick
(School of Historical and Critical Studies); Lauren Segal (Programme
Director and Curator, Constitution Hill, Johannesburg) Haifa Zangana (Iraqi
born novelist and former political prisoner).

Contested spaces opens 6pm Friday 19th November with a documentary film by
directed Cahal McLaughlin: Looking back, looking out: location, materiality,
testimony at Long Kesh/Maze, Northern Ireland

The conference continues with speakers' papers and discussion from 10.00am
until 6.30pm Saturday 20th November with a reception in The Maze exhibition
at the University of Brighton Gallery.  
Cost: £10/free (concessions). Places are limited and must be booked in
advance. 
For more info and to book contact: [log in to unmask]

PLEASE CIRCULATE