Loose Ends, Conclusions, and Critical Trajectories

Abstract

The seventh chapter melds findings from throughout the study with over-arching auto-ethnographic insights. It dissects and contextualizes in terms of the issues and theoretical framework of the study collected genealogical information and mementos such as family photographs. The author attempts to envision and narrate a cultural moment in her grandmother’s immigrant family and the lives and identity-intersected experiences of her four Italian great-grandmothers according to general and, to the extent possible, particular knowledge, pivoting between details known and unknown. The chapter presents its resolutions concerning digital/social/convergent media and suggests amendments to existing theory. It examines the volume’s relatively unexplored issues such as LGBT identities and intersections, adoption and other forms of family building that might be racially transgressive, and wrong turns and unexpected or sensitive revelations. It also contemplates and recommends study of genealogy media and culture in international contexts.