What is the significance of engaging with colonial archives, which are laden with historical power imbalances and misrepresentations? In this episode, we embark on a journey through time to explore radio archives from the colonial era. Presented by Luc Marraffa, a PhD candidate at the Amsterdam School for Cultural Analysis at the University of Amsterdam, this episode brings a keen focus on the histories that have been erased from radio records, examining these narratives through the interdisciplinary lenses of sound studies, critical archive studies, and decolonial approaches. By revisiting these colonial radio archives, this episode allows us to rethink how we engage with archives, urging us to exercise care to uncover and give voice to unheard and non-verbal cues. 

Listening For Emotions is now available for streaming on all major platforms.

The Academic Citizen is supported by the South African Research Chair in Science Communication at Stellenbosch University for Season 7. 

Episode Notes:

Transcription as Curation: listening for emotions in archived radio shows was written and presented by Luc Marraffa, PhD candidate at the University of Amsterdam.

The radio archive sonic heard in the presentation was:

Koninginnedag Programma, 30.04.1949. Programma voor de Nederlandse strijdkrachten in Indonesie, Beeld & Geluid.

This programme was created by Wereldomroep, the ‘World Services’ of the Dutch broadcasting services. It was specifically for the Dutch military fighting in the Indonesian war of Independence. The programme regularly aired greetings from family members and was recorded in a studio in Hilversum, the Netherlands. It was intended to be listened to by soldiers stationed in Indonesia. This particular programme was broadcasted on the Queen’s birthday, a national holiday in the Netherlands.

Koninginnedag Programma can be heard and accessed here.