IN-PERSON Barcelona Livable Cities. Section A

Abstract

Actuality films capture the dynamic essence of urban environments, preserving socio-cultural landscapes and chronicling historical evolution. These films offer invaluable visual and auditory records, allowing future generations to witness the transformation of cities. Archiving these films serves as memory records, providing insights into everyday life, architectural developments, and significant events shaping urban identity. Digitalization has revolutionized film archive accessibility and preservation, protecting them from physical degradation and democratizing access for researchers, educators, and the public. Digital archives enhance searchability and interactive engagement, fostering new scholarly inquiries and public discourse.However, the selection process for digitization can introduce biases, influenced by filmmakers, curators, and funding bodies, potentially limiting comprehensive urban representation. This study analyzes the representation of Ankara, the capital of the Republic of Türkiye, between 1923 and 1950, a transformative period during the early republican era, using the digital archive by the Ministry of Culture. Employing content and discourse analysis methods, the research examines how Ankara’s representation in these films contributes to the social memory record and its potential reuse in future narratives. This case study highlights how digital archives can be used to understand and reinterpret urban histories, acknowledging the challenges of selective preservation.