Producing the Archival Body

Producing the Archival Body examines the everyday lived experiences of archivists and records creators, drawing on theoretical and practical research to re-consider how archives are defined, understood, deployed, and accessed. It argues that archives and bodies are mutually constitutive and develops a keen focus on the body and embodiment alongside archival theory.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 170 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Producing the Archival Body is a groundbreaking work that delves into the often overlooked experiences of archivists and records creators in archival and media production. Drawing on extensive theoretical and practical research conducted within US and Canadian archives, as well as critical and cultural theory, the book offers a comprehensive examination of the everyday lived realities of these individuals.

The author's previous work, which combined archival and queer theories to develop the Queer/ed Archival Methodology, serves as a foundation for this exploration. This methodology intervenes in traditional archival practices and challenges the notion of archives as static repositories of information. By inviting readers interested in humanistic inquiry to re-examine the definition, understanding, deployment, and access of archives, the book seeks to redefine the role of archives in producing subjects.

Central to the author's argument is the notion that archives and bodies are mutually constitutive, and the book develops a keen focus on the body and embodiment alongside archival theory. Through this lens, the author introduces new understandings of archival bodies, challenging traditional notions of archives as neutral and objective repositories of knowledge.

Lee's work contributes to the growing disciplinary emphasis on transdisciplinarity, as she interrogates how power circulates and is deployed in archival contexts. By building critical understandings of how deeply archives influence and shape the production of knowledges and human subjectivities, the book offers valuable insights for academics and students engaged in the study of archival studies, library and information science, gender and womens studies, anthropology, history, digital humanities, and media studies.

Moreover, Producing the Archival Body will be of great interest to practitioners working in and with archives, as it provides valuable practical insights into the challenges and opportunities that arise in this field. The book offers a wealth of examples and case studies that demonstrate the ways in which archivists and records creators navigate the complex terrain of archival work, and it provides a roadmap for developing more inclusive and equitable archival practices.

In conclusion, Producing the Archival Body is a groundbreaking work that offers a fresh perspective on the experiences of archivists and records creators. By combining theoretical and practical research with critical and cultural theory, the book challenges traditional notions of archives and provides a rich understanding of the everyday lived realities of these individuals. This book will be essential reading for academics, students, and practitioners alike, as it contributes to the ongoing dialogue about the role of archives in shaping our understanding of the past and the present.

Weight: 340g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367676438