Call for Papers
Private and Public Memories

Helsinki, 29–30 November 2012

Papers are invited for contributions to the fourth international symposium of the Finnish Oral History Network Private and Public Memories hosted by the Finnish Literature Society in collaboration with the Academy of Finland project Strangers from the East (2009-2012). Our intention is to stimulate discussion and bring together scholars from various fields interested in private and public memories. The invited speakers include Paula Hamilton (Australian Centre for Public History, University of Technology Sydney), Daniela Koleva (Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski), Kirsti Salmi-Niklander (University of Helsinki) and Vieda Skultans (University of Bristol).

Memory is a way for people to give meaning to and transform their past. Memory is shared, transmitted and expressed in various and complicated ways and continuously reworked in relation to changing political and emotional needs. In addition to "private" we have chosen to use the term "public" in relation to "memories" to signal our understanding of the essentially social nature of remembering. Personal memory is not merely private and internal, but always draws on knowledge and information from the surrounding society. Public can be used with reference to the "memory of publics", in other words, the ways memory affects and is affected by various publics. Another way to view it, is the "publicness of memory", which examines the processes through which private memories become public. Politics of memory are always at stake in this process. "Public memories" are shaped by complex power struggles. Who gets to say what about a given community? What kinds of practices are used to authorize some versions of a story and to silence other ones?

The program will include keynote lectures, paper sessions and a closing panel. The working conference language will be English. Some special sessions will be organized, entitled "Oral-literary traditions in immigrant communities", "Oral history from above" and "Life-cycles and memory". Proposals may be submitted for individual papers or workshop sessions. Individual proposals may be addressed to specific sessions or in general.

All proposals should include a title and a maximum 250 word abstract (per paper). The proposals must be written in English. Proposals for whole sessions should include all abstracts of the suggested papers. Please include with the proposal the following information:

• name (with your surname in CAPITAL letters)
• affiliation
• postal address
• e-mail address
• telephone and fax numbers

Proposals will be evaluated according to their focus on the topic. Please e-mail your proposal as an e-mail attachment by 25 May 2012 to fohn@finlit.fi. The acceptance or rejection of proposals will be announced by 15 June 2012.

The admission to the symposium is 50 € (standard) / 35 € (Concession: students /unwaged). Registration by 30 August 2012.

Enquiries: fohn@finlit.fi

Ulla-Maija Peltonen
Chair, FOHN
Finnish Literature Society
P.O. Box 259
FIN-00171 Helsinki

Ulla Savolainen
Course Secretary, FOHN
Folklore Studies/
Department of Philosophy, History, Culture and Art Studies
P.O. Box 4
FIN-00014 University of Helsinki