The new embodied angel of the archive: light and shadow

This article examines the "embodied angel of the archive," inspired by Walter Benjamin’s “Angelus Novus” metaphor, exploring archives as dynamic entities that inspire poetic narratives. Drawing on key theorists, it critiques neoliberal commodification of memory and surveillance capitalism's impact on experiential memory. Performance studies examples highlight how archives can stifle or ignite transformative forces. The study reimagines the archive as a conscious, grounded presence, resisting neoliberal algorithmic fetishization and redefining our relationship with memory and history.