LISA participates in symposium on archival practices and audiovisual memory

On September 17th and 18th, 2024, the USP School of Communications and Arts (ECA) hosted the symposium “Corpo-archive: practices, memories and audiovisual imaginations”, organized by Delfina Cabrera, Cecilia Gil Mariño, Carola Saavedra (UzK), Peter W. Schulze (PBI-UzK/Mecila) and Mateus Araújo (ECA-USP), with the support of the Postgraduate Program in Audiovisual Media and Processes at ECA-USP and the Maria Sibylla Merian Center Conviviality-Inequality in Latin America (Mecila), a center dedicated to investigating the interactions between coexistence and inequality in Latin America. The event brought together archivists, curators and researchers to debate the role of archives in preserving marginalized stories and memories. In a scenario of growing discussions about memory, preservation and representation, the event highlighted the relevance of so-called "smaller audiovisual archives", a concept proposed by researcher Juana Suárez.

The symposium addressed the need to question hegemonic narratives and promote a transregional dialogue on archival practices in Latin America. The central proposal of the event was to investigate how collaborative practices and decolonial thinking can contribute to the reformulation of audiovisual memories. In focus were issues of circulation, access and heritage preservation policies, emphasizing the violence and absences that mark the construction of archives, as well as the possibility of reimagining these spaces through new perspectives.

The Laboratory of Image and Sound in Anthropology (LISA-USP)  was invited to form a table next to the Edgard Leuenroth Archive (AEL), at Unicamp. Rose Satiko Gitirana Hikiji, coordinator of LISA, and Leonardo Fuzer, responsible for the Laboratory's collections, participated in the discussions together with Mário Medeiros, coordinator of AEL. The meeting between the two institutions provided a rich exchange on archival practices and the preservation of memories in a Latin American context, expanding understanding of the importance of collaborative projects.

Founded in 1991 by Sylvia Caiuby Novaes, LISA has established itself as a reference in the production and preservation of audiovisual materials. The laboratory has a technical structure that includes collection reserves, auditorium and editing islands, and houses collections of images, videos and sound files related to research with indigenous populations and other communities. Throughout its history, LISA has also stood out for its commitment to making its collections accessible to the public and to the populations portrayed, reinforcing its mission of collaborating with the communities involved.

The issue of accessibility of collections was one of the most discussed points during the symposium. Since 2004, LISA has been committed to digitizing its vast audiovisual collection, an ongoing process that aims to preserve historical materials such as paper photographs and reel-to-reel tapes. Currently, the laboratory's collection includes around 2,000 films (mainly documentaries, medium and feature films), 24,500 images (including photos, stickers and glass plates) and 700 hours of sound recordings (cassette tapes, records, CDS and digital files). The majority of the photographic and phonographic collection is made up of records with indigenous peoples.

In addition to its preservationist function, LISA is consolidated as a space for the audiovisual production of ethnographic films, made by researchers linked to the Department of Anthropology, from scientific initiation to post-doctorate. the. Throughout its history, LISA's audiovisual production has explored a wide range of issues, such as rituals, migrations and cultural practices, in different contexts.

At the seminar, LISA's project to reinforce collaborative approaches in audiovisual production was discussed, through support for projects developed in partnership with the researched populations. These initiatives, by promoting the active participation of communities, demonstrate the laboratory's commitment to returning the materials produced to those who are the focus of their research. The digitalization of the collection also aims to increase access to it by the populations portrayed. This way, they can access, share and reframe their stories.

The “Corpo-archivo” symposium brought a deep reflection on the transformative role of smaller archives, not only as repositories of memory, but as active tools in cultural resistance and the democratization of access to knowledge. By bringing together institutions such as LISA and AEL, the event promoted a space for essential dialogue to rethink the ways of preserving and circulating audiovisual memories, especially in the Latin American context.

LISA's participation in the symposium reinforced its pioneering role and its ongoing commitment to the production and preservation of audiovisual archives, expanding the debate on the voices and narratives of indigenous populations and other communities. The laboratory's work reflects an approach that goes beyond traditional conservation, promoting the return and active participation of communities in the construction of their own archives, in an ethical and collaborative practice.

Through initiatives such as the digitization of collections and collaborative audiovisual productions, LISA continues to position itself as an innovative space in visual anthropology, helping to shape new ways of imagining and preserving memories.

To find out more about the institutions involved, visit:

LISA-USP: https://lisa.fflch.usp.br/
AEL: https://ael.ifch.unicamp.br/
MECILA: https://mecila.net/pt/