Revolutionary Memories: Historical Subjectivity and Heritage Activism in Dublin Ireland

This dissertation explores the theoretical concept of “historical subjectivity” in anthropology, which focuses on how individuals consider themselves as part of an ongoing historical narrative that extends from the past, into the present, and will be remembered in the future. This research was conducted through a case study of the ways in which activists involved with the Save Moore Street campaign in Dublin, Ireland (which revolves around saving historically significant building from being re-developed into a contemporary shopping center) invoke historical events, empathize with historical figures, and imagine how their city, and their actions, will be viewed by people in the future. Methods used are ethnographic: participant observation and in-depth interviews, and archival research (using both primary and secondary sources). The dissertation is composed of three primary standalone chapters and two sub-chapters. The Prelude sets the ethnographic present: primarily 2016 in Dublin, as the country celebrates the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising, a seminal event in Ireland’s struggle for independence from Great Britain. Chapter 1 explores how activists use satire and invoke historical “ghosts” to appeal to the public to support their campaign, which is firmly rooted in the present state of economic uncertainty post-financial collapse. Chapter 2 introduces the idea of “historical empathy,” an idea long used by educators but less common among anthropologists. Here, I show how we in the present can empathize with historical figures through points of connection: family lineage, using similar space, and even watching their actions on film, which can meaningfully affect us and motivate our actions in the present and for the future. The Ethnographic Interlude continues this discussion with a short section on ideas of respect for historical figures in a commemorative setting. Finally, Chapter 3 focuses on how activists and developers imagine the future according to ethical and economic goals, which I argue are not entirely antithetical in their goals of urban revitalization