Dr. Rajesh V. Nair discusses archiving family memory and history through digital spaces like online narratives, blogs, and social media. He argues that documenting family narratives online (1) creates a collective family identity and social memory, (2) acts as a more democratic and interactive space than traditional media, and (3) allows memory to be frequently rewritten like a palimpsest in a virtual public sphere. Nair also outlines different modes of narrating family online through websites, applications, videos, and blogs, and concludes that digital spaces are important for social bonding through shared family memories and disseminating knowledge in new ways.

1. Archiving Memory in Digital Space:
Family History as Life Narrative
Dr. Rajesh V. Nair
Assistant Professor
PG Department and Research Centre
Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam

2. Introduction
• Digital Revolution
• Speed and mobility
• Role of New Media
• Why family history as life narrative in New
Media?

3. Family History Online
• Boom in inline life narratives
• Genealogical studies online
• Focus: Memory

4. Memory
• Media and memory
• Collective memory
• Why online family histories/narratives become
important for us?
1.Family space in digital space – collective
identity – social memory – power
2.Space – memory narratives – counter space

5. 2.Status symbol
Social, symbolic capital
Biographies –egoistic narratives of self
3.A more democratic space – interactive space –
a group space in virtual space – blog-a
hyperlinked self
4.A palimpsest space – a frame – micro
narratives

6. Modes of Narrating Family Online
1.Websites
Genealogical sites, fansites
2.Online applications
WhatsApp groups(videos, photos) sharing
3.You Tube
4.Blogs, Facebook
Photos
5.Obituaries

7. Concluding Remarks
1.Social bonding through online family narratives
New socialities – networked society
2.New Media and knowledge
Dissemination – space for dissonant voices –counter memory – resistance discourses
3.private/public memory
4.A utopian world in virtual space
Digital space
5.Virtual public sphere
Memory frequently rewritten
Importance of genealogical studies – ‘technostalgia’
6.Authenticity and legitimacy

8. THANKS