main argument, narrative, or e/affect

Zeitlyn authored an expansive article lifting the intersection between archives and anthropology. According to Zeitlyn, an archive (or archives or Archives) as a collection of materials is put together for a specific purpose by the researcher, historian, or individual. The author discusses the views of philosophers and researchers Derrida and Foucault who propose that archives attempt to maintain control of a hegemonic narrative and through it, control of people but reading “against the grain” of archives allows for alternative narratives to rise and absent voices to be heard. Zeitlyn notes that “archive” is a term that is used often and in many different contexts (at risk of “collapsing under the weight of metaphoric overextension”) but proposes two ways of thinking about archives - “orphanages/hospices” or “performance records.” In many ways, this article builds on last week’s readings and affirms that there are many “right” ways to archive as there are projects and that the researcher has the responsibility of making an informed decision that is appropriate for the project and the human/social subjects. When making decisions about the presentation and accessibility of the archive, one must stay within the boundaries of ethical and legal parameters. Zeitlyn implores researchers to be forward-thinking in their research journey and challenges feelings of ownership over research material, and be proactive in building an (appropriately) accessible archive for future re-readings and discovery.