Between Words and Silence

This article tackles the risks of digitization sensitive collections and ethical limits open access. Research into experience conflicts violence requires submerging a world local taboos practices that usually remain within sphere cultural intimacy. Similarly, can grant an un-curated uncontrolled access to realms which should be handled with awareness sensitivity. We focus on two case-studies referring Podhale, region in Tatra Mountains inhabited by people called Górale. The first one is archive Nazi anthropological photography documentation recently rediscovered at Smithsonian Institution Archives (SIA). Its 2007 marked start research project WWII anthropology evoking same time ardent emotional debate among both scholars Górale community. most serious issues referred impact digitized photographs present-day collective memory In fact, till archive’s discovery digitization, episode racial was literally cast out from history memory. this we will ask how deal such materials conduct people, for whom invokes unwanted traumatic experiences. second case-study focuses contemporary related anti-communist guerrilla group “B?yskawica” (Lightning) operating aftermath Polish-Slovak border region. Accused communist authorities war-crimes, these partisans were officially rehabilitated only Polish Revolution 1989. Memories about are still very vivid conflicting feelings undisputed glorification total condemnation. inquire ambiguous digital discourses social media around memories build resources archives former secret police (now deposited Institute National Remembrance; INR - Institut Pami?ci Narodowej, IPN ). Both similar period, region, type sources (archives produced past regime’s institutions power). refer experiences violence, difficult choices, conflicts, oppressive regimes practices. argue transition data realm raises danger manipulation various interest groups, arbitrary defragmentation reconfiguration. It enliven even reinforce old generate new ones undermine fragile balance