Ex-votos as objects and active memory: contributions from Halbwachs and Latour

Abstract

Based on sections of the doctoral dissertation the author defended this year in the Memory and Language Program at the Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia in Brazil, this article examines the ex-voto, an object believers leave in miracle rooms, at cemeteries, or at roadside shrines to express gratitude for a divine favor received. As both an object and a medium within networked processes of agency, it brings visibility to individual and collective experiences. At the same time, the ex-voto is a source of collective memory, as it constitutes a rich record of local, regional, and national histories. The article traces its circulation and proliferation in spaces not traditionally associated with religion, such as museums, shops, commercial brands, clothing, and advertising. Throughout the text, examples illustrate the ex-voto’s potential as an active object. The theoretical framework draws on Maurice Halbwachs and Bruno Latour, highlighting their respective contributions through the core analytical concepts of networks and agency, and individual and collective memory.