Conversations in Conflict Studies- Healing Memories Through Art

A screening of One Day in the Life of Javier Antonio.
Guest Speaker: Dashel Hernandez, EMPA Candidate, the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University and Maria Marino, MPA Candidate, School of Public Policy and Administration, University of Delaware.

The process of healing emotions must start with the healing of memory. Painful memories are not easy to heal, mostly because healing in this context is defined as forgetting. However, burying painful memories in the subconscious mind only causes them to rise again, yielding more pain and impeding a positive transformation. Art may offer the possibility of healing memories by transforming emotions. The way I conceive this transformation is through a process of non-resistance contemplation of our own memories. Since memory is as an active and constructive process, the emotional pain associated with these memories may be positively changed when, over time, we are willing to witness them kindly and without confrontation. At the same time, I believe that this process of healing personal memories may play a positive role in transforming collective memories. Fueled by the power of storytelling, One Day in the Life of Javier Antonio (2017, 23 min.) is an exercise in non-resistance contemplation of my own childhood memories and, by extension, my generation’s collective memory of a difficult time in Cuba.

Conversations in Conflict Studies is a weekly educational speaker series for students, faculty, and the community. The series, sponsored by PARCC, draws its speakers from Syracuse University faculty, national and international scholars and activists, and PhD students. 
Pizza is served. Follow us on Twitter @PARCCatMaxwell, tweet #ConvoInConflict.

If you require accommodations, please contact Deborah Toole by email at datoole@syr.edu or by phone at 315.443.2367.