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Paper short abstract:

My project is an autoethnographic video essay that explores my experience of revisiting my childhood room nine years after moving out. It reflects on the remnants left behind and the spectral qualities associated with their lingering presence.

Paper long abstract:

Through a visual exploration of my childhood home accompanied by reflective narration, my work delves into the enduring presence of my past within my present, approached from an autoethnographical perspective. Situated in a quiet suburb near the Athens airport, this house serves as a repository of my memories. However, my former room now accommodates one of our family cats, often found sleeping with my mother. My piano functions as a dining spot for the cat, with its stool repurposed as a table for a desk lamp I once used for studying. Adjacent to the piano stands my old desk, now adorned with a decorative doily beneath a television screen—a stark contrast against the purple-painted wall whose color I enthusiastically chose at age seven. Posters from my adolescent years still adorn the walls, juxtaposing different stages of my life. Throughout the house, family portraits stand alongside Christian icons, creating a tableau that reflects the overwhelming Christian character of Greece.

Moreover, in the living room, as night descends, numerous cats completely take over the space. The aim of this exploration is to unravel the lingering echoes of my childhood within these objects, contemplating their transformation and the dynamic nature of their presence in this once-familiar space. The interplay between the enduring traces of my youth underscores how spaces evolve over time while retaining elements that connect them to our personal histories which are deeply interwined with the cultural environments we inhabit.