Memory research partnership strengthened

In a rare move, Massey University’s School of Visual and Material Culture has bestowed the position of Honorary Fellow on Professor Kendall R Phillips of Syracuse University (New York, USA).

The appointment cements a flourishing collaboration between Massey and Syracuse, which began with research into aspects of memory – a specialist area for Professor Phillips.

Research into public memory is attracting a fertile mix of scholars worldwide, ranging from historians to artists to neuroscientists. Professor Phillips himself is Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies in the College of Visual and Performing Arts and a Professor in the Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies. He studies a vast array of rhetorical artefacts, from comic books and film to political speeches and scientific controversies, to explore concepts of advocacy, controversy, dissent and public memory. Professor Phillips has written seven books and numerous scholarly articles, and hosts the popular weekly television show Classic Movie Night on central New York’s public broadcaster WCNY.

In 2010, Massey University, Syracuse University, and Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa jointly presented a major multidisciplinary conference on public memory. Contained Memory 2010 was convened by Professor Phillips and Associate Professor Kingsley Baird of Massey University, who is well known for his sculptural work, creating such significant public memorials as the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Wellington. Since then, the two academics have co-edited an online journal, Memory Connection, and are both members of The Memory Waka, an international, multi-disciplinary research group located in Massey’s School of Visual and Material Culture, which is part of the College of Creative Arts,at Massey’s Wellington campus.

Professor Phillips says he is deeply honoured to be the school’s inaugural honorary fellow. “The relationship we have begun building between our two institutions has been invaluable. I look forward to expanding that relationship and building on the global community of memory and visual scholars already connected through our Memory Waka.”

Associate Professor Baird pays tribute to Syracuse University, whose public memory project inspired early work on memory at Massey. “They have been very generous collaborators within that space,” he says. “There is a worldwide groundswell of interest in memorialisation, especially after 9/11. Memory binds communities together. It is an endlessly fascinating area with tremendous scope for international, interdisciplinary research. Kendall is an inspiration, and we hope to broaden what is already a significant collaboration into a long-standing partnership across both our universities.”

School head Associate Professor Tony Whincup says recognising Professor Phillips as an honorary fellow is an appropriate way to formalise the school’s relationship with Syracuse University. “We look forward to further developing the very productive partnership already established.”