Paths of memory, what stories do clothes tell? Building a timeline from photographs and shared memories

Abstract

The study presents the results of a workshop conducted with participants from the IFSC Gaspar 60+ institutional research project. It is, therefore, a descriptive article whose main objective was to demonstrate how clothing was used as a material tool to assist in evoking the group’s memories. During the three sessions of the workshop entitled Paths of Memory: What Stories Do Clothes Tell?, topics such as social memory, identity, and material culture were discussed, drawing on the perspectives of Ecléa Bosi, Ivan Izquierdo, Joel Candau, Jan Assmann, Ulpiano Bezerra de Meneses, José Reginaldo Gonçalves, and Pierre Nora. Using a dialogical methodology, the proposed activities led to reflections on the theme of memory through clothing, employing personal photographs as material support to evoke memories. Through this approach, participants practiced the power of selection when choosing photos and shared memories associated with those images, reflecting on the clothes worn at the time each moment was recorded. The process culminated in the creation of a timeline collaboratively built with photographs and other written materials. Finally, it is important to highlight the receptiveness and engagement of the participants, who demonstrated enthusiasm in sharing their stories and contributing photos to the activities and the construction of the final product.