Voices of Collective Voices of Collective RememberingRemembering

Universitetet i OsloUniversitetet i OsloMay 2004May 2004

James V. WertschJames V. WertschWashington UniversityWashington University

in St. Louisin St. Louisjwertsch@wustl.edujwertsch@wustl.edu

Collective MemoryCollective Memory

Ancient issue but renewed interestAncient issue but renewed interest Many disciplines involvedMany disciplines involved

– History (Nora, Novick)History (Nora, Novick)– Sociology (Halbwachs)Sociology (Halbwachs)– Psychology (Middleton)Psychology (Middleton)– Anthropology (Cole)Anthropology (Cole)– Communication/media studies (Schudson)Communication/media studies (Schudson)– Education (Wineburg, Seixas)Education (Wineburg, Seixas)– Literature (Fussell)Literature (Fussell)

Collective MemoryCollective Memory

Little agreement on terminology (vs. study of Little agreement on terminology (vs. study of individual memory in psychology):individual memory in psychology):– ““Collective memory” (Halbwachs)Collective memory” (Halbwachs)– ““Public memory” (Bodnar)Public memory” (Bodnar)– ““Cultural memory”Cultural memory”– ““Historical memory”Historical memory”– ““Historical consciousness” (Seixas)Historical consciousness” (Seixas)

An Encounter with Collective An Encounter with Collective Memory: “Sasha” in MoscowMemory: “Sasha” in Moscow

The United States made a lot of money from sellingThe United States made a lot of money from sellingarms and other things to countries during the earlyarms and other things to countries during the earlyyears of the war, but it did not really contribute as anyears of the war, but it did not really contribute as anally. In fact, along with Great Britain it refused toally. In fact, along with Great Britain it refused toopen a second front in 1942 and again in 1943. Itopen a second front in 1942 and again in 1943. Itwas only after the U.S. and Britain began to thinkwas only after the U.S. and Britain began to thinkthat the Soviet Union might win the war by itself andthat the Soviet Union might win the war by itself anddominate post-war Europe that they becamedominate post-war Europe that they becameconcerned enough to enter the war in earnest byconcerned enough to enter the war in earnest byopening a second front in 1944. opening a second front in 1944.

Russian Collective MemoryRussian Collective Memory

Stark contrast with US narrativeStark contrast with US narrative– Tied to a Russian identity projectTied to a Russian identity project

Sasha: a post-Soviet account: informed and with Sasha: a post-Soviet account: informed and with access to informationaccess to information

Not recognized or transparent to Sasha: just telling Not recognized or transparent to Sasha: just telling us “What really happened”us “What really happened”– Probably not open to revision based on disconfirming Probably not open to revision based on disconfirming

evidenceevidence– A very neat narrative; “impatient with ambiguity” A very neat narrative; “impatient with ambiguity”

(Novick), complexity, disconfirming evidence(Novick), complexity, disconfirming evidence

In Lieu of Defining Collective In Lieu of Defining Collective MemoryMemory

Collective memory vs. individual memoryCollective memory vs. individual memory Collective memory: “strong version” vs. Collective memory: “strong version” vs.

“distributed version”“distributed version” Distributed version of collective memory (the Distributed version of collective memory (the

“correct” interpretation):“correct” interpretation):– Active agent + cultural toolActive agent + cultural tool– Cultural tools especially in the form of narrative Cultural tools especially in the form of narrative

texts (Sasha + textual means)texts (Sasha + textual means)

In Lieu of Defining Collective In Lieu of Defining Collective MemoryMemory

Textual meansTextual means– Issues of production and consumption Issues of production and consumption

(including resistance)(including resistance) Collective memory vs. Collective Collective memory vs. Collective

rememberingremembering– ProcessProcess of using textual means of using textual means

Collective memory vs. Collective knowledgeCollective memory vs. Collective knowledge– Memories Memories belong tobelong to a group a group– Part of identity projectPart of identity project

Collective Memory vs. HistoryCollective Memory vs. History

Identity project (usually Identity project (usually a picture of heroism, a picture of heroism, victimhood, etc.)victimhood, etc.)

Impatient with Impatient with ambiguityambiguity

Ignores Ignores counterevidence in counterevidence in order to preserve order to preserve established narrativeestablished narrative

Aspires to arrive at Aspires to arrive at objective truth, objective truth, regardless of regardless of consequencesconsequences

Recognizes complexity Recognizes complexity and ambiguityand ambiguity

May revise existing May revise existing narrative in light of new narrative in light of new evidence (archives, evidence (archives, etc.)etc.)

Schematization in Collective Schematization in Collective Memory: “Specific Narratives” vs. Memory: “Specific Narratives” vs. “Schematic Narrative Templates”“Schematic Narrative Templates”

Sasha’s “specific narrative”Sasha’s “specific narrative”

Underlying Schematic Narrative TemplateUnderlying Schematic Narrative Template– ““Deep memory”Deep memory”– Schematic: general, abstractSchematic: general, abstract– Narrative: in formNarrative: in form– Template: applies to many episodes Template: applies to many episodes – Specific to particular collectivesSpecific to particular collectives

Triumph-over-Alien-Forces SNTTriumph-over-Alien-Forces SNT

Russian version:Russian version:– Russia was peaceful and not interfering with Russia was peaceful and not interfering with

othersothers– Russia is viciously and wantonly attacked Russia is viciously and wantonly attacked

without provocationwithout provocation– Russia almost loses everything in total defeatRussia almost loses everything in total defeat– Through heroism and exceptionalism, and Through heroism and exceptionalism, and

against all odds, Russia triumphsagainst all odds, Russia triumphs

Applies to Several Past EpisodesApplies to Several Past Episodes

Mongols (13Mongols (13thth century) century) Swedes (18Swedes (18thth)) Napoleon (19Napoleon (19thth)) Germans (20Germans (20thth)) Communism and Western mentality (20Communism and Western mentality (20thth))

Template: same basic (schematic) story Template: same basic (schematic) story (narrative) over and over(narrative) over and over

ConclusionsConclusions

Collective memoryCollective memory– Distributed versionDistributed version

Collective remembering = active agent using Collective remembering = active agent using particular textual means (especially narratives)particular textual means (especially narratives)

Textual means are often transparentTextual means are often transparent Textual means Textual means belongbelong to, and characterize a to, and characterize a

collectivecollective– Distinguishes one group from anotherDistinguishes one group from another– Source of “memory borders”Source of “memory borders”

Issues of the production and consumption of the Issues of the production and consumption of the textual meanstextual means

ConclusionsConclusions

Collective remembering is not analytic Collective remembering is not analytic historyhistory

Use of schematic narrative templates in Use of schematic narrative templates in collective remembering (vs. specific collective remembering (vs. specific narratives)narratives)