Virtual Returns: Colonial postcards online and digital 'nostalgérie' among the former European settlers of Algeria

This research investigates the online practices of remembrance and contestation surrounding France's colonial past, specifically focusing on the pieds-noirs—former European settlers and naturalized French Jewish Algerians who left Algeria after its independence in 1962. The Algerian War of Independence (1954-1962) profoundly shaped the experience of the pieds-noirs, leaving a legacy of complex and often conflicting memories. The article contributes to existing scholarship on pied-noir memory by analyzing how they disseminate images of French Algeria online, particularly through the use of colonial-era postcards on personal websites. The study situates this practice within the context of the 'memory wars,' a period of intense competition over the interpretation of colonial history and its legacy. The research argues that while the internet provides a new space for memory-making, the visual culture of these websites reinforces a particular, homogenized vision of pied-noir identity tied to a nostalgic, and ultimately idealized, view of colonial Algeria. The author acknowledges a gap in existing research concerning digital technologies and remembrance of postcolonial migrations primarily focusing on Anglophone frameworks, highlighting the importance of investigating the online francosphère.

The author reviews existing literature on pied-noir memory and commemoration, highlighting the narratives of victimhood promoted by pieds-noir activists and associations. These narratives often contrast with historical accounts that acknowledge the privileges enjoyed by pieds-noirs under the colonial system. The research also explores the concept of 'nostalgérie,' a specific form of nostalgia for Algeria, and its role in shaping pied-noir identity. The literature review incorporates relevant works on colonial photography, the visual economy of French Algeria, and the use of postcards in constructing and transmitting colonial memories. Furthermore, the author cites existing scholarship on memory wars, digital sites of memory, and the role of the internet in shaping collective memory and identity, providing a theoretical framework for analyzing the online practices of the pieds-noirs. The review includes works by scholars like Eldridge, Barclay, Hubbel, Stora, and Welch and McGonagle, establishing the context and providing a critical lens through which to examine the phenomenon.

This article employs a qualitative approach, analyzing the visual culture and textual content of a sample of websites created and maintained by self-identified pieds-noirs. The author examines the prevalent use of colonial-era postcards on these websites, analyzing how these images contribute to the construction of a collective pied-noir identity and memory. The study focuses on the ways in which these digital representations of colonial Algeria reinforce specific narratives of loss, nostalgia, and exile. The author uses case studies of specific websites, including 'Ville d'Oran' and 'Algeroisement Votre,' to illustrate the key themes of the research. The analysis also incorporates an examination of a YouTube video, "T'en souviens tu avant 1962," to explore how pied-noir memory narratives are engaged with and contested by a wider online audience. The methodology involved identifying and accessing relevant websites and social media content. The selection was based on the prevalence of colonial postcards as visual elements and the accessibility of the sites. The analysis of the visual material considers both the images themselves and the textual context provided by website creators and online commenters. The author recognizes the limitations of a small sample and the inherently subjective nature of interpreting visual and textual data, stating the limitations in the conclusion.

The study reveals that pieds-noirs utilize digital platforms to create virtual representations of their lost Algerian homeland, primarily through the use of colonial postcards. These postcards, initially used to market French Algeria, are repurposed to evoke nostalgia and reconstruct a lost urban topography. The use of these images reinforces a particular and often uncritical perspective on the colonial past, overlooking the complexities of colonial society and marginalizing the experiences of the colonized population. The analysis of specific websites showcases how these digital spaces selectively present a sanitized and homogenized version of pied-noir identity, omitting the diversity within the community and neglecting the period after Algerian independence. The examination of the YouTube video demonstrates how online platforms allow for contestation of these narratives, as comments reveal diverse perspectives, corrections to historical details, and the introduction of alternative historical accounts that challenge the dominant pied-noir viewpoint. The inclusion of Arabic language in some comments signals a complex interaction between pied-noir nostalgia and broader Algerian experiences, showing a multi-layered memory beyond the intended audience. The study indicates that while pieds-noirs aim to create controlled spaces of memory, the fluidity of online platforms leads to unexpected interactions and challenges to their intended narratives.

The findings suggest that online spaces of remembrance, while offering opportunities for creating and sharing collective memories, are not always stable or controlled environments. The use of colonial postcards in creating virtual returns to Algeria reveals a complex interplay between nostalgia, identity construction, and the ongoing negotiation of colonial history. The selective representation of the past, evident in the choice of images and omission of certain historical facts, raises questions about the power dynamics inherent in memory construction and the potential for perpetuating biased narratives. The contestation of pied-noir narratives in online comments highlights the importance of considering multiple perspectives and acknowledging the complexity of historical events. The study demonstrates that digital platforms can facilitate both the reinforcement of established narratives and the emergence of counter-narratives, shaping a complex and dynamic process of memory-making and cultural exchange.

This research demonstrates how digital technologies are used to construct and contest collective memories in the postcolonial context. The use of colonial postcards by pieds-noirs online reveals a strategy of remembering that simultaneously reinforces a specific, idealized version of the past and opens it up to challenges and reinterpretations. Although pieds-noirs aim for a homogenous online collective memory, the internet's capacity for dissemination leads to unexpected interactions and reinterpretations, illustrating the fluidity of online memory spaces. Future research could expand on the multilingual aspects of online responses to colonial imagery, investigating how the digital space facilitates interaction and exchange between diverse memory narratives.

The study's limitations include the relatively small sample size of websites analyzed. The selection of websites was based on the availability and accessibility of online resources, and may not be fully representative of all pied-noir online activity. Furthermore, the analysis relies on interpretation of visual and textual data, which is inherently subjective. The focus on a specific group's online activity may also not fully capture the broader complexities of memory politics related to French colonialism.