Identity Politics

Abstract

Drawing from a well-established interdisciplinary history that focuses on the affective power of photography when animated through oral narration, this chapter looks at how diasporic identity is mediated through family photographs. One case study that uses photo-elicitation as research method is referenced in order to consider the mnemonic value of photographs or what can be described as the ‘affect' of the image in evoking critical memories. In doing this, a sense of diasporic belonging to a new homeland, grief, trauma, and loss is investigated. This chapter concludes by highlighting that critical traumatic memories can be inter-generationally transferred into post-memories as the past is brought into the present through discussion and reflection.