Overview

In Meaningful Pasts, Russell Johnston and Michael Ripmeester explore two strands of identity-making among residents of the Niagara Region in Ontario, Canada. First, they describe the region's official narratives, most of which celebrate the achievements of white settlers with a mix of storytelling, rituals, and monuments. Despite their presence in local lore and landmarks, these official narratives did not resonate with the nearly one thousand residents who participated in five surveys conducted over eleven years. Instead, participants drew on contemporary people, places, and events. Second, the authors explore the emergence of Niagara's wine industry as a heritage narrative. The book shares how the survey participants embraced the industry as a local identifier and indicates how the industry's efforts have rekindled residents' interest in agriculture as a significant element of regional heritage and local identities. Revealing how the profiles of local narratives and commemorations become entwined with social, cultural, economic, and political power, Meaningful Pasts illuminates the fact that local narratives retain their relevance only if residents find them meaningful in their day-to-day lives.

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9781487528737

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"""Russell Johnston and Michael Ripmeester's research maps the affective mnemonic practices of Niagara residents as they navigate concepts of community and social change. As the study reveals, traditional historical narratives, and indeed the interventions made into these by cultural professionals, have far less impact on people's contemporary understandings of self and community than often supposed. This important book will challenge cultural professionals concerned with developing effective interventions into political and social debates while providing important pointers for developing a broader understanding of community mnemonic practices."" - Laurajane Smith, Professor of Heritage and Museum Studies, Australian National University ""Memory studies is undergoing an affective turn as we consider how the past, beyond official memorial narratives, is internalized, performed, and resisted by ordinary social actors and groups. Meaningful Pasts significantly advances this new paradigm. It documents the ways in which residents of the Niagara region deploy mnemonic resources in building local identities, - Derek H. Alderman, Professor of Geography, University of Tennessee"

"""Memory studies is undergoing an affective turn as we consider how the past, beyond official memorial narratives, is internalized, performed, and resisted by ordinary social actors and groups. Meaningful Pasts significantly advances this new paradigm. It documents the ways in which residents of the Niagara region deploy mnemonic resources in building local identities, --Derek H. Alderman, Professor of Geography, University of Tennessee ""Russell Johnston and Michael Ripmeester's research maps the affective mnemonic practices of Niagara residents as they navigate concepts of community and social change. As the study reveals, traditional historical narratives, and indeed the interventions made into these by cultural professionals, have far less impact on people's contemporary understandings of self and community than often supposed. This important book will challenge cultural professionals concerned with developing effective interventions into political and social debates while providing important pointers for developing a broader understanding of community mnemonic practices.""--Laurajane Smith, Professor of Heritage and Museum Studies, Australian National University"

Author Information

Russell Johnston is an associate professor in the Department of Communication, Popular Culture, and Film at Brock University. Michael Ripmeester is a professor in the Department of Geography and Tourism Studies at Brock University.

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