Fictional Archives: Exploring How Multiple Narratives Are Constructed in the Context of Cultural Heritage Institutions

This thesis examines artist-made fictional archives, which in this context refer to: photography-based projects that present fabricated records either as or alongside "authentic" historical documents. It discusses matters of photographic and institutional authority, as well as the concept of fiction as it relates to the creation of historical narratives. A qualitative case study analysis uses a selection of material from Walid Raad's project, The Atlas Group (1989-2004), to answer the following research questions. How are multiple narratives created by: artists through intended interventions within cultural heritage institutions; archivists and curators through managing and preserving collections; and individuals who use/encounter these collections? This thesis explores individual and collecting institutions' responses to the ideological questions raised by fictional archives. It demonstrates that when positioned within archival and museum contexts, even if photographs incorporate fiction, they gain validation through associations to institutional authorities and are received by audiences as authentic historical records.