Review article
https://doi.org/10.5559/di.25.1.01
Theoretical Conceptualisation of Collective Memories in Sociology and Related Social Sciences
Andriana Benčić
orcid.org/0000-0002-4025-1176
; Zagreb
Abstract
Collective memory is a trans-disciplinary concept and
scholars have approached it from the fields of sociology,
history, political science, psychology, among other disciplines.
Thus, social memory studies are an intellectually far-reaching
field, but nevertheless, or perhaps as a result, also an
evasive field without clear focus and efficient analytical
evaluation of research problems as well as research subjects
and approaches. The aim of this paper is to examine the
conceptualisation of collective memories in relation to
sociology and related social sciences. Therefore, the goal is
to explain and sharpen collective memory theoretical tools
for their further use in theory and research. Accordingly, we
will examine definitions offered by J. Olick (Olick, 1999;
Olick, Vinitzky-Seroussi, & Levy, 2011b), A. Confino (1997)
and B. French (2012). Collective memories, therefore, could
be seen as changeable and dynamic images of the past,
mediated through concerns of the present, in response to
various social and political factors. Besides, collective
memories are a social construction constituted through a
multiplicity of circulating sign forms, with interpretations
shared by some social actors and contested by others in
response to heterogeneous positions in a hierarchical social
field. In the so-called memory battlefield political elites often
play a predominant role, while others confront difficulties in
articulating their voices.
Keywords
collective memories; the politics of memory; sociology; identity and power
Hrčak ID:
157950
URI
Publication date:
2.5.2016.
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