Participation Type
Paper
Presentation #1 Title
"Voices from the Past, vis a vis Ranciere: Who we Were, Who we Are"
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
My paper will discuss the concepts of identity, the “other,” and power, vis a vis the thinking of the French political philosopher, Jacques Ranciere. I will examine the texts of oral history interviews done with residents of coal camps in the mountains of Appalachian Kentucky. The interviews were done in 1988 with people born early in the 20th c., about everyday life. The interviews are rich in detail, and broad in perspective, though questions concerning identity were not part of the question set. Will find particular patterns on the construction of self – identity? I wonder if there are examples where they reference “the other”? How is diversity viewed? And, how does a person here in the coal fields place themselves in the bigger picture, that is, the artificially constructed social hierarchy? What is in these interviews that speaks to power? What purpose does self – identity serve? Community identity? Cultural identity? What is implied in these interviews, and what can we discern, and where is the line? I have not looked at these interviews for years, and now that I have been reading and digesting the ideas of Ranciere, I am brought again to what I recall of these “voices.” I am curious. I will discuss Ranciere’s ideas briefly and have a handout at the ready. I will present my research findings / arguments, and if there is time and interest, will welcome comments, discussion, and other insights about my conclusions. Let’s listen… Keywords: identity, “other,” power
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Glenna Graves is an adjunct History professor at Lindsey Wilson College and Kentucky's community college system KCTCS. She is a native of Appalachian Virginia.
"Voices from the Past, vis a vis Ranciere: Who we Were, Who we Are"
My paper will discuss the concepts of identity, the “other,” and power, vis a vis the thinking of the French political philosopher, Jacques Ranciere. I will examine the texts of oral history interviews done with residents of coal camps in the mountains of Appalachian Kentucky. The interviews were done in 1988 with people born early in the 20th c., about everyday life. The interviews are rich in detail, and broad in perspective, though questions concerning identity were not part of the question set. Will find particular patterns on the construction of self – identity? I wonder if there are examples where they reference “the other”? How is diversity viewed? And, how does a person here in the coal fields place themselves in the bigger picture, that is, the artificially constructed social hierarchy? What is in these interviews that speaks to power? What purpose does self – identity serve? Community identity? Cultural identity? What is implied in these interviews, and what can we discern, and where is the line? I have not looked at these interviews for years, and now that I have been reading and digesting the ideas of Ranciere, I am brought again to what I recall of these “voices.” I am curious. I will discuss Ranciere’s ideas briefly and have a handout at the ready. I will present my research findings / arguments, and if there is time and interest, will welcome comments, discussion, and other insights about my conclusions. Let’s listen… Keywords: identity, “other,” power
