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This article focuses on possible uses of photography during anthropological research of individual and communicative memory. Among the studies that are concerned with the meaning of photography in relation to the process of origin and reproduction of memories, this article concentrates on the author’s photography, created primarily as a private autobiographical practice of individuals. In the context of approaches critically revising dichotomous examinations of individual and collective memory, which are briefly presented first, the article draws on the concept of distributed cognition. Formulated by Edwin Hutchins, the concept views objects external to the human body as “material means of thought”. Drawing from this perspective, the article interprets photography as a prosthetic tool that serves for long-term preservation and (re)construction of memory. As such, photography, via the use of the elicitation method, can act as a supporting tool during qualitative interviews, and it can help reveal memories or interpretations of the past that could be left behind or completely overlooked during purely orally framed research. By this interpretation of photography, the article also seeks to integrate the social constructivist and cognitivist views on the possibilities of individual memory research. In conclusion, therefore, it highlights interdisciplinary approaches such as Tim Fawns’ concept of blended memory, which relinquishes static descriptions of the contents of memory and conversely focuses on its procedural aspects.

Témata Biografu:

Vizualita, vizuální média a jejich výzkum

Citujte jako:

ABRHÁMOVÁ, M. (2021): Fotografie jako protetický nástroj paměti a proč stojí za to mu věnovat pozornost Biograf (73-74): Dostupné na adrese [naposledy navštíveno 29. 05. 2023]

Poděkování:

Tato studie byla financována z grantového projektu IGA_FF_2020_015 (Sociální vědy 2020) Ministerstva školství, mládeže a tělovýchovy ČR.