Specialist discourse analysis – collective memory (linguistic perspective) 3502-JIS-2-KON-5
The seminar will be devoted to the analysis of specialist discourse of collective memory, which since the beginning of the 21st century has been one of the fundamental points of reference in the Polish public debate, sparking up intense and long-lasting social debates. Its negotiating results in conflicts that situate this discourse in the “hot memory” domain, as put by Charles S. Maier During our discussions we are going to analyse key academic and feature texts within this field and interpret them through the perspective of various theories of discourse analysis and memory studies.
The methods of linguistic discourse analysis should allow us to pinpoint the hidden assumptions and values that form the backbone of the contemporary memory conflicts, as well as their instrumental aims, persuasive and manipulative strategies, lack of reflection and self-awareness, historical genealogy of notions, categories and metaphors. Our analysis will be also aimed at identifying the specific cultural circulations of discourse, its conventions, genres and complex identity etiquettes.
Both Polish and foreign memory studies will enable us to introduce a comparative and international perspective, locating the Polish conflicts within the global frame of the so-called “memory boom”. What is more, this perspective should unveil the ethical, aesthetic and political perspective of the memory discourse, as well as its performative dimension, connected with call to action, hate speech and the problems of the rational and prospective decision-making.
The seminar will have a workshop style – with the use of specific methodologies students are going to interpret the source material, present their findings to the group (both individually and collectively) and then discuss them.
Type of course
Mode
Assessment criteria
participation in the seminar discussions, presentation during classes
Bibliography
Napiórkowski Marcin, Majewski Paweł (red.), Antropologia pamięci. Zagadnienia i wybór tekstów, Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego, Warszawa 2018.
Additional information
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