TITLE:
The Presentation of Trauma in Museums: The Museum of the Occupation of Latvia and the National Museum of Qatar as Case Studies
AUTHORS:
Mariam I. Al-Hammadi
KEYWORDS:
Atrocity, Cultural, Social, Blockade, Memory, History, Holocaust
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Political Science,
Vol.11 No.4,
August
30,
2021
ABSTRACT: This paper attempts to explore the theme of Trauma and its representation
in the Contemporary World; in particular, the logic and argumentation of having
museums presenting the sorrow side to people the “trauma”, is unfolded with the
rationale of comparison of two cases the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia
(MOL) and the National Museum of Qatar mainly dealing with the emerging message
of new Qatar National Trauma Museum. The current political incident came to
proof the necessity to remind people about historical events and their link to
the recent incidents. The museums as a contact zone provide public lessons from
the past that is a creative and stored memory. The analysis of the concept of
trauma touches on questions such as why Latvia and Qatar need such Trauma
Museums, how this museum builds the traumatic
narrative and discusses the potential effect on the local people. The aims of this comparison
focus on the value of safeguarding of the nation through remembrance and that
although museums presenting trauma may seek to educate and evoke pride in
visitors for fellow residents, the main task is to avert the recurrence of what
led to the trauma, which could be blockade, war or occupation that cut
aggressors loose. The methodological tool of the theme follows properly
designed exhibitions and making use of new technologies, by contextualizing museum
exhibits and practices as made by both Latvia and Qatar on the basis of
national identity triggered from the past atrocities, on a holistic approach.
This includes, especially, the social effects and movement associated with the
blockade in Qatar and the War with Nazi-Russian occupation for Latvia, viewed
as the development of presentation of traumatic memories that addresses and
understands the interrelationships between politics and culture, political
culture and cultural politics.