パレスチナの場所と記憶をめぐる考察 : タウフィーク・カナアーンの痕跡と業績を手掛かりに

Abstract

This article concerns the difficulty of preserving collective memory of Palestinian society before the Nakba, the Catastrophe wrought on the population by the creation of the State of Israel, as read through the works of famous Palestinian folklorist Tawfiq Canaan. A former leprosy hospital in Jerusalem has eliminated all traces of its Arab history including its Arab patients and staff. This was the place where Canaan served as director and physician. It is ironic that his legacy here has been completely erased since he was a figure who made great efforts to collect Palestinian traditions, foreseeing that they would be lost or forgotten in the near future. Still, beyond the hospital, there are more elaborate ways of controlling Palestinian collective memory in Israeli public space. While a Palestinian motif may be presented on the outside, something related to the Nakba or the distinct identities of a Palestinian village are prevented from being expressed, as seen in an exhibition on Palestinian embroidery. This article highlights Canaan's works, arguing that they have the potential to resist such maneuvers. Additionally, his articles present specific problems of preserving collective memory, such as “Palestinian Arab House.” In detailing the ways of building houses, customs related to the home, and living habits, Canaan provides rich information on Palestinian habitations. We find the paradox of memory in these efforts “not to forget” - that they sometimes bring about selective memory. However, Canaan’s works are left open in front of us.