Presentations of Readings Presentations of Readings Precursors & Classics (Continued) Precursors & Classics (Continued) – Bloch pp.150-155 Bloch pp.150-155 – Bastide, Warner pp. 157-167. Bastide, Warner pp. 157-167. – Evans-Pritchard, Lévi-Strauss, pp. 168- Evans-Pritchard, Lévi-Strauss, pp. 168- 176 176 History, Memory, Identity History, Memory, Identity – Assmann, Berger 207-220 Assmann, Berger 207-220 – Zerubavel, Olick, Bellah et al. 221-231 Zerubavel, Olick, Bellah et al. 221-231 – Zerubavel, Schwartz, pp.237-247 Zerubavel, Schwartz, pp.237-247
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Presentations of ReadingsPresentations of Readings
Precursors & Classics (Continued)Precursors & Classics (Continued)– Bloch pp.150-155Bloch pp.150-155– Bastide, Warner pp. 157-167.Bastide, Warner pp. 157-167.– Evans-Pritchard, Lévi-Strauss, pp. 168-176Evans-Pritchard, Lévi-Strauss, pp. 168-176
Memory work as processMemory work as process How are memories passed from generation to How are memories passed from generation to
generation?generation? Central role of memory as communication Central role of memory as communication
between individualsbetween individuals Questions about fit between ritual & storiesQuestions about fit between ritual & stories Importance of questioning errors in collective Importance of questioning errors in collective
memory narrativesmemory narratives
BastideBastide Analysis of book on African descended Brasilians (Arthur Analysis of book on African descended Brasilians (Arthur
Ramos)Ramos) Religion & myths as traditionReligion & myths as tradition Survival of memory Survival of memory Loss as a product of social changeLoss as a product of social change functionalist & psychoanalytical approaches point to functionalist & psychoanalytical approaches point to
importance of social frameworks for memories to surviveimportance of social frameworks for memories to survive Social continuity depends on structural continuitySocial continuity depends on structural continuity Localization of memories in objects, placesLocalization of memories in objects, places Motor memory, intellectual memoryMotor memory, intellectual memory Importance of social structures (sect, sacred space, secrets)Importance of social structures (sect, sacred space, secrets)
W. Lloyd WarnerW. Lloyd Warner
Symbolic life of Americans—analysis of Symbolic life of Americans—analysis of Memorial Day in USMemorial Day in US
Cults & importance of remembrance rituals Cults & importance of remembrance rituals commemorating the dead for ideas about commemorating the dead for ideas about living & the futureliving & the future
Social rituals as present expressions that are Social rituals as present expressions that are evocative & non-rationalevocative & non-rational
Evans-PritchardEvans-Pritchard
Oecology- ”environmental spacing and Oecology- ”environmental spacing and interdependence of people and institutions, as interdependence of people and institutions, as in rural or in urban settings”in rural or in urban settings”
Time reckoning of Nuer –cyclical but events Time reckoning of Nuer –cyclical but events not evenly distributednot evenly distributed
Steps in lineages—limits to notion of historical Steps in lineages—limits to notion of historical timetime
Time a way of structuring relationships Time a way of structuring relationships between people (past and present)between people (past and present)
Lévi-StraussLévi-Strauss
Notion of distinction between ‘savage’ or Notion of distinction between ‘savage’ or primative & civilized peoplesprimative & civilized peoples
links between ‘totemic’ myths & contemporary links between ‘totemic’ myths & contemporary archives or cultural heritage institutionsarchives or cultural heritage institutions
Ways of inserting irrationality into systems Ways of inserting irrationality into systems that grant physical traces the power to keep that grant physical traces the power to keep some of history to survivesome of history to survive
AssmannAssmann
Communicative vs cultural memoryCommunicative vs cultural memory Mnemohistory—how the past is rememberedMnemohistory—how the past is remembered Not about truth but identityNot about truth but identity ’’concretization of identity’concretization of identity’ Reconstruction within contemporary frame of Reconstruction within contemporary frame of
Phenomenological approachPhenomenological approach ConsciousnessConsciousness Movement through different social worlds Movement through different social worlds Changes in meaning systems linked to Changes in meaning systems linked to
changes in social relationships, changes in changes in social relationships, changes in consciousnessconsciousness
E. ZerubavelE. Zerubavel
More on his methodology in second part of More on his methodology in second part of classclass
Collected vs. Collective traditionsCollected vs. Collective traditions individualistic theories, social groupsindividualistic theories, social groups Collectivist challenges to idea of individual Collectivist challenges to idea of individual
memory (groups constituted through memory)memory (groups constituted through memory)
Habits of the HeartHabits of the Heart
Practices of commitment to ‘futures of hope’Practices of commitment to ‘futures of hope’ Importance for social solidarityImportance for social solidarity
Yael ZerubavelYael Zerubavel
Master commemorative narrativesMaster commemorative narratives Distinctive social identityDistinctive social identity Historical developmentHistorical development Transformation of historical time into Transformation of historical time into
commemorative timecommemorative time Events as turning pointsEvents as turning points Tensions—memory as dynamic cultural forceTensions—memory as dynamic cultural force
Barry SchwartzBarry Schwartz
Study of historical reputationsStudy of historical reputations Not just present politicsNot just present politics Memory studies not just about why but how Memory studies not just about why but how
collective memory is constructedcollective memory is constructed Need to theorize on both variations & explain Need to theorize on both variations & explain
persistencepersistence
Time Maps & Framing/Containing MemoryTime Maps & Framing/Containing Memory
prehistory
history
origin
Today’s ClassToday’s Class
Lecture & Discussion ThemesLecture & Discussion Themes – Time Maps & Collective MemoryTime Maps & Collective Memory– If time: begin thinking about Collected Personal If time: begin thinking about Collected Personal
Memories vs. Collective MemoryMemories vs. Collective Memory Film ScreeningFilm Screening
Time Frames in Collective Memory Time Frames in Collective Memory StudiesStudies
Salvador Dali, The Persistence of Memory, 1931
Assumptions about Assumptions about mnemonic tracesmnemonic traces
–Cognitive vs. Cognitive vs. unconscious processesunconscious processes–History vs. History vs. representations of the representations of the pastpast–““mental” structuresmental” structures
Processes & Forms for Framing Memory Processes & Forms for Framing Memory in timein time
““Sociomental” topography of Sociomental” topography of how communitieshow communities rememberremember the pastthe past
Unconventional approach to links between Unconventional approach to links between conventional ideas of ‘history’ & public/collecctive conventional ideas of ‘history’ & public/collecctive memorymemory
mnemonic traditionsmnemonic traditions– ““recalling the past together” & synchronizing attention on recalling the past together” & synchronizing attention on
particular momentsparticular moments– social norms of rememberingsocial norms of remembering– Mnemonic transitivity (allows memory to pass from one Mnemonic transitivity (allows memory to pass from one
person to another even when there is no directe contact)person to another even when there is no directe contact)
Communication of memoriesCommunication of memories Mnemonic “go-betweens” (ex. Mnemonic “go-betweens” (ex.
Old people)Old people) Oral or written accountsOral or written accounts visual resources (ex. Photo visual resources (ex. Photo
albums, books)albums, books) Material culture (monuments, Material culture (monuments,
Halls of Fame, artifacts, art, Halls of Fame, artifacts, art, other artifacts, i.e. licence other artifacts, i.e. licence plates)plates)
– Things, odours, ex. Madeleine Things, odours, ex. Madeleine (Marcel Proust, (Marcel Proust, Remembrance Remembrance of things pastof things past, triggered by , triggered by smell and taste of Madeleines, smell and taste of Madeleines, a style of French cakea style of French cake))
““Time Maps” & the Social Shaping of Time Maps” & the Social Shaping of Memory (E. Zerubavel)Memory (E. Zerubavel)
Questions of relevanceQuestions of relevance Long and short term Long and short term Eventful and uneventful periodsEventful and uneventful periods ConnectionsConnections DiscontinuitiesDiscontinuities
Analyzing the Structures of Socio-Analyzing the Structures of Socio-Mental memory traditionsMental memory traditions
1.1. conventional ways of stringing memories together conventional ways of stringing memories together into culturally-meaningful narrativesinto culturally-meaningful narratives
2.2. strategies to create the illusion of historical strategies to create the illusion of historical continuity (bridges)continuity (bridges)
3.3. genealogical structures of ancestry & descentgenealogical structures of ancestry & descent4.4. ““watersheds” that separate one period from the watersheds” that separate one period from the
next & inflating mental dividesnext & inflating mental divides5.5. The social construction of “beginnings” (origin The social construction of “beginnings” (origin
“myths” and the legitimation of claims about the “myths” and the legitimation of claims about the past)past)
(1)Plotlines & Narrative Forms(1)Plotlines & Narrative Forms
Establish connections in Establish connections in narratives,narratives,
scenarios, plotlinesscenarios, plotlines Mental historical outlooks,Mental historical outlooks, Selective use of history,Selective use of history, Often anticipate futureOften anticipate future
Progress narrativesProgress narratives
Plotlines & Narrative FormsPlotlines & Narrative Forms
Decline narrativesDecline narratives
Both imply single directionBoth imply single direction
Zigzag Zigzag NarrativesNarratives ConversionConversion RecoveryRecovery Rise & fallRise & fall
Western (Solar-Lunar combo.) Western (Solar-Lunar combo.) Calendar SystemsCalendar Systems Combination of Bablyonian & Greco-Roman Combination of Bablyonian & Greco-Roman
astrological & astronomical theories & mythsastrological & astronomical theories & myths 24 hour day & 7 day week24 hour day & 7 day week nomenclature based on cycle named for 7 heavenly nomenclature based on cycle named for 7 heavenly
bodies (visible with ancient technologies) & bodies (visible with ancient technologies) & associations with deities in Greco-Roman & other associations with deities in Greco-Roman & other pantheonspantheons
– Sunday (heavenly body ascendant in first hour of first day--Sun)Sunday (heavenly body ascendant in first hour of first day--Sun)– Monday (moon)Monday (moon)– Tuesday (Mars—God of War)Tuesday (Mars—God of War)– Wednesday (Mercury)Wednesday (Mercury)– Thursday (Jupiter)Thursday (Jupiter)– Friday (Venus)Friday (Venus)– Saturday (Saturn)Saturday (Saturn)
Density Variations --Density Variations --Mountains Mountains and valleys and valleys
– eventful vs. uneventful eventful vs. uneventful moments in the pastmoments in the past
2-Creating Historical Continuity by 2-Creating Historical Continuity by bridgingbridging gaps gaps
Linking noncontiguous points in time or place Linking noncontiguous points in time or place to establish continuityto establish continuity– Same placeSame place– Same things (relics & memorabilia)Same things (relics & memorabilia)– Imitation of the past (ex. Courtroom etiquette Imitation of the past (ex. Courtroom etiquette
religious ritual)religious ritual)– ““same” time (commemorative holidays, same” time (commemorative holidays,
3--Mapping connections with the past 3--Mapping connections with the past through ancestry & descent (models for through ancestry & descent (models for contact chains)contact chains)
Not always based Not always based on consanguinityon consanguinity
Assimilation & DifferenceAssimilation & Difference Periods, epochs as mnemonic transformation of historical continuumPeriods, epochs as mnemonic transformation of historical continuum
History & Prehistory in History & Prehistory in Mnemonic Traditions--Mnemonic Traditions--decapitationdecapitation
History & Prehistory in History & Prehistory in Mnemonic TraditionsMnemonic Traditions Example: Pre-contact and Post contact history of Example: Pre-contact and Post contact history of
N. AmericaN. America
Lumping & Splitting in NarrativesLumping & Splitting in Narratives
5-Beginnings 5-Beginnings and Claims and Claims based on the based on the PastPast
