From “Vernacular Museums” to the “Do-It-Yourself Past”

Abstract

This article examines the idea of “vernacular museums” as it was put forth by Irina Kyzlasova and Elena Chesnokova in an earlier issue of the journal. In response to the authors’ idea, I aim to further develop the line of argumentation, proposing to broaden the scope of analysis for this phenomenon. The article explores the issues surrounding the application of the term “vernacular museum.” These obstacles include the presence of previous iterations of such museums, the inherent contradictions within the categorization of museums’ diversity, and the challenges associated with conceptualizing vernaculars as a signifi cant Other of the offi cially recognized museum models. The article presents a novel approach to examining modern museum activities, suggesting that they could be placed alongside broader grassroots commemoration activities and memorial activism.