How Societies Remember

Presented by Sharon Kalman, Sacha Page and Jennifer Stevenson

About the Author

How Societies Remember by Paul Connerton published 1989. Dr Paul Connerton, a sociologist, teaches in the department of Social Anthropology at Cambridge University. Fellow of the Institute of Romance Studies at London College

Social Memory Terminology

Recollection Historical Reconstruction Social Memory Personal Memory Cognitive Memory Performative Actions Habit Memory Forgetting Social Persistence

Social Memory
Using Halbwachs as a starting point he asserts that memory is a socially constructed phenomena. Counters notions of memory that are purely psychological or purely constructed by social narrative. Instead argues that memory is embodied in social practice. Habit Memory is primarily expressed in actual body or physical movements of people and in ritual performance.

Social Memory (continued)

Social memory causes an inertia in social structures. An important part of understanding social structures and identity is an examination of habit, bodily practices and ritual.

People create notions of themselves as they relate to their world and others in their society
These interactions are at the base of identity creation and maintenance.

Connertons Intellectual Antecedents

Maurice Halbwachs La Memoire Collective Z. Bauman Memories of Class P. Nora Les lieux de la memoire D. Lowenthal The Past is a foreign country

How Societies Remember Its Reception

Very well received, not only in Memory Studies but also in the broad disciplinary fields of history, sociology and anthropology. His interpretations of social memory used in many interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary studies . Main criticisms are that his theory portrays social structures as too static and inert. Also his claim that his perspective is a new way to understand social memory, is not quite accurate because many anthropologists studied bodily practices.

Commemorative Ceremonies

Ritual
Ritual
Rule-governed activity of a symbolic character which draws the attention of its participants to objects of thought and feeling which they hold to be of special significance.
Defined by Steven Lukes and adhered to by Connerton

Ritual
1.

The prescribed order of a religious ceremony

American Heritage Dictionary

2.

The prescribed form of conducting a formal secular ceremony

American Heritage Dictionary

3.

Any act or practice regularly repeated in a set precise manner for relief of anxiety
Merriam-Webster medical dictionary

Ritual (continued)

Rites
Formalized acts that tend to be stylized, stereotyped, and repetitive. They are not spontaneous and are deliberately observed to denote feelings. (Dictionary definition: A ceremonial act established by law or custom)

Hitler Youth march

Christian Confirmation

Religion

Jesus

Abraham

Mosque

History=identity= continuity=commemoration

Passover Seder

Pilgrimage to Mecca

The Crucifixion (el Greco)

Modern Invented Rites

Olympic Opening Ceremonies

Bastille Day

Jubilee Day

Calendrical

Chinese New Year

Jewish New Year New Years Eve: Times Square

Verbal

Hebrew Latin`

Sanskrit

Arabic

Gestural

Bodily Practices

Incorporating Practices
Information is taken from the action and interpreted based on various factors such as culture, religion or race. Living models help us learn these practices and the meaning is just understood but never directly discussed.

Inscribing Practices
Ways to provide information even after the informing system has stopped providing information. These must be taught in steps and explained in order to be understood but once they are understood they are with us forever. An example of this is learning the alphabet.

What type of practice do you think this is? When do we shake hands?

What type of practice is this?

The overlap between practices

There is an overlap between incorporating practices and inscribing practices. Connerton claims that although the overlap exists there will always be a dominating factor.

Gestures can also be

Referential which means that it refers to means of a sign. (cultural) Notational which means that it provides support for the content of the conversation. (transcends culture)

More signs. What do each of these mean ? how did you learn their meanings?

Lessons Learned
Words, images & bodily practices help us preserve the past. We are writing in an alphabet that is centuries old. We view artifacts that are centuries old. We are performing simple actions that have been done for centuries. Everything we do connects us to the past whether we realize it or not.