Older veterans: The materiality of reminiscence, making unknown histories knowable and forging social connections

Emma Long; Annabelle Edwards; Brigit McWade; Samuel Clark; Liz Brewster

doi:10.1177/17506980211024317

Older veterans: The materiality of reminiscence, making unknown histories knowable and forging social connections

Emma Long, Annabelle Edwards, Brigit McWade, Samuel Clark, Liz Brewster

Politics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Materials have long been used by individuals reflecting on personal histories, and researchers have evidenced the associated therapeutic value particularly among older populations. In this article, we consider older veterans’ reminiscence through attending interviews and workshops, focusing on the performative potential of engaging with materials collected throughout their service lives. By considering their use of in situ and post-hoc materials, two themes are explored: the use of materials to build a sense of belonging; and making unknown histories knowable. We consider how their sharing of materials (re)produces their past and present military identities, simultaneously drawing boundaries of inclusion and exclusion around what it means to be military or non-military (civilian). Through sharing materials, veterans facilitated discussions with both military and non-military persons, enabling feelings of connection and belonging.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	892-908
Journal	Memory Studies
Volume	14
Issue number	4
Early online date	24 Jun 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/17506980211024317
Publication status	Published - Aug 2021

Bibliographical note

Access to Document

10.1177/17506980211024317Licence: CC BY-NC

Older veterans: The materiality of reminiscence, making unknown histories knowable and forging social connections
© The Author(s) 2021
Final published version, 286 KBLicence: CC BY-NC

Cite this

@article{b4326d7dfa7b446e9385ed70ceae0f44,

title = "Older veterans: The materiality of reminiscence, making unknown histories knowable and forging social connections",

abstract = "Materials have long been used by individuals reflecting on personal histories, and researchers have evidenced the associated therapeutic value particularly among older populations. In this article, we consider older veterans{\textquoteright} reminiscence through attending interviews and workshops, focusing on the performative potential of engaging with materials collected throughout their service lives. By considering their use of in situ and post-hoc materials, two themes are explored: the use of materials to build a sense of belonging; and making unknown histories knowable. We consider how their sharing of materials (re)produces their past and present military identities, simultaneously drawing boundaries of inclusion and exclusion around what it means to be military or non-military (civilian). Through sharing materials, veterans facilitated discussions with both military and non-military persons, enabling feelings of connection and belonging.",

author = "Emma Long and Annabelle Edwards and Brigit McWade and Samuel Clark and Liz Brewster",

note = "{\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2021",

year = "2021",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1177/17506980211024317",

language = "English",

volume = "14",

pages = "892--908",

journal = "Memory Studies",

issn = "1750-6980",

publisher = "SAGE",

number = "4",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Older veterans

T2 - The materiality of reminiscence, making unknown histories knowable and forging social connections

AU - Long, Emma

AU - Edwards, Annabelle

AU - McWade, Brigit

AU - Clark, Samuel

AU - Brewster, Liz

PY - 2021/8

Y1 - 2021/8

N2 - Materials have long been used by individuals reflecting on personal histories, and researchers have evidenced the associated therapeutic value particularly among older populations. In this article, we consider older veterans’ reminiscence through attending interviews and workshops, focusing on the performative potential of engaging with materials collected throughout their service lives. By considering their use of in situ and post-hoc materials, two themes are explored: the use of materials to build a sense of belonging; and making unknown histories knowable. We consider how their sharing of materials (re)produces their past and present military identities, simultaneously drawing boundaries of inclusion and exclusion around what it means to be military or non-military (civilian). Through sharing materials, veterans facilitated discussions with both military and non-military persons, enabling feelings of connection and belonging.

AB - Materials have long been used by individuals reflecting on personal histories, and researchers have evidenced the associated therapeutic value particularly among older populations. In this article, we consider older veterans’ reminiscence through attending interviews and workshops, focusing on the performative potential of engaging with materials collected throughout their service lives. By considering their use of in situ and post-hoc materials, two themes are explored: the use of materials to build a sense of belonging; and making unknown histories knowable. We consider how their sharing of materials (re)produces their past and present military identities, simultaneously drawing boundaries of inclusion and exclusion around what it means to be military or non-military (civilian). Through sharing materials, veterans facilitated discussions with both military and non-military persons, enabling feelings of connection and belonging.

U2 - 10.1177/17506980211024317

DO - 10.1177/17506980211024317

M3 - Article

SN - 1750-6980

VL - 14

SP - 892

EP - 908

JO - Memory Studies

JF - Memory Studies

IS - 4

ER -