Silencing Memories (Cultural Amnesia, Censorship, Denial) and Globalization of Memory Discourses Recall: Iconoclasm as a form of suppression of collective memory Iconoclasm vs. vandalism : deliberate destruction of images rooted in religious, political etc. vs. Ignorant behaviourIconoclasm vs. vandalism : deliberate destruction of images rooted in religious, political etc. vs. Ignorant behaviour Example: Destruction of 3rd c. A.D. Buddhas by Taleban in Afghanistan completed March 12, 2002 Example: Destruction of 3rd c. A.D. Buddhas by Taleban in Afghanistan completed March 12, 2002Destruction of 3rd c. A.D. Buddhas by Taleban in Afghanistan Destruction of 3rd c. A.D. Buddhas by Taleban in Afghanistan

Recommended readings Trouillot, Michel-Rolph. Silencing the Past. Power and the Production of History. Boston: Beacon Press, Trouillot, Michel-Rolph. Silencing the Past. Power and the Production of History. Boston: Beacon Press, Post, Robert (ed.). Censorship and Silencing. Practices of Cultural Regulation. Santa Monica: Getty Research Institute Post, Robert (ed.). Censorship and Silencing. Practices of Cultural Regulation. Santa Monica: Getty Research Institute Eyerman, Ron. Cultural Trauma… Cambridge U. Press Eyerman, Ron. Cultural Trauma… Cambridge U. Press Gross, David. Lost Time. Boston: U. Mass. Press Gross, David. Lost Time. Boston: U. Mass. Press 2000.

Historical changes in attitudes to Memory (Gross) Ancient World Ancient World –Real or mythical origins –rituals as commemoration or memory work –Forgetting as transgression Objectives Objectives –Situate self and society with respect to others –Establish legitimacy through continuity with past

Memory in Medieval European traditions & Modern World Memory was “christianized” in medieval time Memory was “christianized” in medieval time –Old traditions and rituals still present but meanings changed (ex. Christmas replaced winter festivals) –But societies still looked to the past

Modernity –emphasized the “new” –Focus on rationalism –Notion of “progress” (every new society or situation an improvement) –Industrial revolution– fractured mnemonic communities

Postmodernism & globalization of memory discourses Heiddiger – forgetting as soon as possible Heiddiger – forgetting as soon as possible Awareness of mediation processes that frame and change depictions of the past Awareness of mediation processes that frame and change depictions of the past Confusion regarding desirability of remembering or forgetting Confusion regarding desirability of remembering or forgetting Reframing traumatic memories to change the present and the future…. Reframing traumatic memories to change the present and the future….

Collective Memory and Cultural Trauma Discourse Mental capacity to retrieve information and performed learned mental operations Mental capacity to retrieve information and performed learned mental operations Content of recollections Content of recollections Location of where recollections are stored Location of where recollections are stored Memory in the process of identity-formation Memory in the process of identity-formation Past becomes present through embodied discourse & behaviour Past becomes present through embodied discourse & behaviour

Collective memory of trauma as form of Public commemoration Creation of social solidarity Creation of social solidarity Shared understandings provide cognitive map to orient individuals Shared understandings provide cognitive map to orient individuals Defines temporal map unifying group in time and space, distinguising between past, present and future Defines temporal map unifying group in time and space, distinguising between past, present and future

Collective representations of cultural trauma & Identity- formation (Eyerman) Difference between individual & collective experiences of trauma Difference between individual & collective experiences of trauma –Not psychological or physical trauma of individuals but loss of identity & meaning of group that has some social cohesion Uses of remembrance to Uses of remembrance to – form a new group identity –Establish solidarity amongst people with different experiences and feelings

Definitions of cultural trauma (Smelzer) Memory accepted by members of a group Memory accepted by members of a group Evokes an event of situation Evokes an event of situation –Laden with negative affect –Indelible –Threatening existence or violating fundamental cultural presuppoisition of a society Trauma links past to present through mediation processes that negotiate accepted interpretations of the past & imaginative reconstruction Trauma links past to present through mediation processes that negotiate accepted interpretations of the past & imaginative reconstruction

Mediation processes Memories not only through direct experience Memories not only through direct experience Mediated experience, involving selective construction & representation (ex. Spike Lee’s When the Levees Broke) Mediated experience, involving selective construction & representation (ex. Spike Lee’s When the Levees Broke) Mediators as “public intellectuals” who negotiate between the cultural & political spheres articulating ideas to and for others Mediators as “public intellectuals” who negotiate between the cultural & political spheres articulating ideas to and for others Mediation as “translation” between different groups Mediation as “translation” between different groups

Remembrance & Forgetting: History & Power (Trouillot) Power & invisibility “the ultimate mark of power may be its invisibility” Power & invisibility “the ultimate mark of power may be its invisibility” Distinctions between what happened and what was said to have happened Distinctions between what happened and what was said to have happened Interplay between historical process & our knowledge of it Interplay between historical process & our knowledge of it Fundamental ambiguity but power of historical accounts to produce, classify, construct… Fundamental ambiguity but power of historical accounts to produce, classify, construct…

Cultural trauma discourse What is the purpose of does communicating about cultural trauma? What is the purpose of does communicating about cultural trauma? –Reconfigure collective identity –Articulate the foundations for “new identities” Political, psychological, social agendas Political, psychological, social agendas –Openness to new forms and attempt to leave other mnemonic conventions behind –Arrive at consensus about the meaning of traumatic situations through narrations

Fiction vs. Fact in Collective Memory Narratives about Cultural Trauma Credibility: cultural differences in attitudes towards fictional narratives & fact Credibility: cultural differences in attitudes towards fictional narratives & fact Realist vs. constructivist approaches to assessing authenticity Realist vs. constructivist approaches to assessing authenticity Contextual factors in legitimation of narrator’s perspective Contextual factors in legitimation of narrator’s perspective –structural position of narrator(s) socio-cultural, economic, political, ideological etc… socio-cultural, economic, political, ideological etc… –Role (insider or member vs. outsider or non- member etc.)

Examples African American efforts to rework collective memory through rethinking remembrance of slavery African American efforts to rework collective memory through rethinking remembrance of slavery –Slavery traumatic but in retrospect –Potential to unite African Americans in the US whether or no they had any knowledge or feeling for Africa Case studies for short reports— Remembrance & making sure history not repeated;’: Nanjing massacre, Pearl Harbour, Salvadorian civil war etc… Case studies for short reports— Remembrance & making sure history not repeated;’: Nanjing massacre, Pearl Harbour, Salvadorian civil war etc…

Passage from Trouillot— silencing the past

Censorship & Silencing (Post) Post maintians that censorship is everywhere Post maintians that censorship is everywhere Different motivations for silencing the past depending on the case & perspective of the narrator Different motivations for silencing the past depending on the case & perspective of the narrator Importance of understanding context of recollection or silencing Importance of understanding context of recollection or silencing Censorship rights of Aboriginal peoples as challenges to Western liberal thought Censorship rights of Aboriginal peoples as challenges to Western liberal thought

Second Short Report Presentations (continued)

Second Part of Class: More Discussion of Term Assignment Handout 4 Handout 4 Handout Primary & secondary sources Primary & secondary sources Class Presentation Dates for Term Assignment (will be split in two groups) Class Presentation Dates for Term Assignment (will be split in two groups) Class Presentation Dates Class Presentation Dates