Klein-EmergenceMemoryHistorical-2000

Overview

• Title: On the Emergence of Memory in Historical Discourse

• Author: Kerwin Lee Klein

• Publication: Representations, Winter 2000, No. 69, Special Issue: Grounds for Remembering (pp. 127-150)

• Published by: University of California Press

• Stable URL: JSTOR

Key Themes

• The concept of memory as a critical discourse in the historical field.

• Memory's emergence as a scholarly interest in historical inquiry, diverging from traditional historiography.

• The impact of popular culture and identity politics on memory discourse.

Introduction

• The so-called "memory industry" spans museums, legal cases regarding repressed memory, and academic scholarship.

• The concept of collective memory gained traction only in the late 20th century.

• Jeffrey K. Olick and Joyce Robbins highlight the rise of collective memory research in the context of a crisis in historical narrative.

Historical Development

• Early 20th Century: Emergence of collective memory as a concept.

  • Hugo von Hofmannsthal (1902): Coined the term "collective memory."

  • Maurice Halbwachs (1925): Argued that memory is a social phenomenon, contrasting with individual psychology.

• 1970s - 1980s: Increased scholarly focus on memory linked to cultural phenomena like autobiographical literature.

  • Significant works include:

    • Zakhor: Jewish History and Jewish Memory by Yosef Yerushalmi (1982)

    • Pierre Nora's essay "Between Memory and History" (1984).

Memory vs. History

• Memory is perceived as an antihistorical discourse amidst the rise of new historicism in academia.

• Memory has transformed into a philosophical category, amalgamating concepts from postmodernism and cultural studies.

• The antithesis of memory and history is prevalent in scholarly work, despite authors often asserting their compatibility.

• While historically defined by facts and objectivity, memory appears subjective, rich with emotion and cultural relevance.

Memory as a Social Construct

• Recent work in sociology views memory as a social phenomenon rather than merely an individual trait.

• Michael Schudson posits that memory is influenced by cultural artifacts and collective practices, giving rise to public memory.

• Memory connects personal experiences to broader social practices, challenging the notion of individualistic memory.

Theoretical Implications

• Memory integrates elements of subjectivity and collective experience, challenging the dichotomy between memory and historical truth.

• The increasing reliance on memory in discussions of trauma and identity politics reflects societal shifts post-1960s.

• Trauma emerges as a central tenet of memory discourse, linking historical events to collective experiences, particularly in contexts like the Holocaust.

Conclusion

• The evolution of memory discourse indicates a shift away from traditional historical narratives toward more subjective, emotionally resonant interpretations of history.

• The vocabulary surrounding memory often merges with spiritual and religious connotations, suggesting an inherent tension with secular academic discourse.

• The rise of memory as a dominant theme in scholarship reflects a contemporary cultural need to articulate the relevance of the past to present identities and experiences.