Casa mare: memory, identity and museumification

Abstract

This article examines grassroots initiatives for the preservation of local cultural heritage through the example of the casa mare – the guest or “great” room of the traditional Moldovan household. The emergence, in the years of independence, of numerous grassroots initiatives such as private museums and collections indicates the growing importance of maintaining local cultural identity. Most of these museums are organized around the concept of casa mare, yet their collections typically encompass objects representing the entire peasant household, including not only traditional items but also those from the interwar, Soviet, and post-Soviet periods. Such diversity raises questions about collective local memory and the ways it is preserved. For the purpose of analyzing these local heritage preservation practices, the author employs the term grassroots museumification. The study is based on fieldwork conducted in several villages of the Republic of Moldova. Analysis of the case studies highlights several key features of this phenomenon, which also point to the relevance and insufficient scholarly exploration of the topic. First, there is a growing demand for the preservation and promotion of local culture and history, often manifested through the reconstruction of the museum curators’ personal memories. Second, there is a noticeable idealization of traditional lifestyles, reflecting a broader quest for an adequate representation of history. Third, these museums raise questions about authenticity – its meaning, boundaries, and role in representing local culture.