How can communities rebuild and preserve identity after disaster?
Rebuilding national identity after war or natural disaster involves more than restoring buildings and infrastructure. It also involves bold attempts at reviving ways of thinking about the world that have been forgotten, overlooked or suppressed.
From Eastern Europe’s efforts to survive Soviet oppression, to Indigenous ideas about ecology, local communities around the world are looking for ways to talk about their experiences in a quest for justice.
In this Curious conversation, three researchers will explore how culture, storytelling and collective memory can help shape national identity in times of recovery and change.
Dr Viktoria Bavykina examines the role of culture and the arts in Ukraine, and how it probes conventional historical narratives to offer a riposte to Russian imperialism. Via Shakespeare in translation, Dr Elsie Albis centres the experiences of survivors of natural disasters in the Philippines, highlighting their struggles in the context of climate change. Dr Dustin Lalkulhpuia explores how Indigenous ideas of care, dignity and continuity can help address some of today’s most pressing global challenges.
Note for audiences: The discussion may touch on issues such as the war in Ukraine and catastrophes like Typhoon Yolanda. However, there will be no graphic imagery or descriptions. This talk looks to focus on rebuilding after disaster, with a view towards positive proposals for change.
Tickets available from the RSE Curious Festival website: https://rse.org.uk/event/after-the-storm-rebuilding-cultural-identity-and-local-knowledge/