Collective Memory and Memory Activism in the US 4219-SB071
The course offers an exploration of contemporary American collective memory, understood as a reservoir of symbols and representations of the nation’s past, often the subject of disputes
and controversies, that are constantly reinterpreted in response to shifting present-day contexts. Collective memory plays a pivotal role in shaping the cultural, social, and political identity of the United States. Particular attention will be given to memory activism, defined as civic initiatives aimed at shaping perceptions of the past and influencing current state policies. Case studies will include the commemoration of wars and armed conflicts, public health crises, collective acts of violence, ecological disasters, and the preservation of the nation’s natural heritage. Additionally, the course will examine efforts to integrate the perspectives of historically marginalized groups – including women, racial, ethnic, and sexual minorities – into official historical narratives. A significant focus will also be placed on the phenomenon of “de-commemoration,” particularly the removal of Confederate monuments and symbols from public spaces, a movement that has gained momentum over the past decade. Finally, the course will address the growing role of digital memory and Internet- based memory activism, which are increasingly influencing how modern societies construct and maintain narratives about the past.
Type of course
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Knowledge:
* The student is familiar with key theories and concepts in the field of memory studies.
* The student can identify significant historical events, figures, and works that are essential to understanding American culture.
* The student understands the major debates and controversies surrounding American collective memory, considering their historical context and socio-cultural factors.
* The student has knowledge of memory activism in the United States, including its functions, mechanisms, and impact on American collective memory, both historically and in the present day.
Skills:
* The student is able to interpret past and present social events in the United States using selected theories and concepts from memory studies.
* The student can apply theories and concepts from memory studies to analyze phenomena that intersect social movements and collective memory, assessing their impact on the formation of collective identities, narratives, and memory practices in various social contexts.
* The student can independently formulate research questions and propose appropriate methods and tools for their study and analysis, using critical thinking and a thorough understanding of the subject matter.
*The student can critically and thoughtfully analyze research findings and texts within memory studies, considering different theoretical and contextual perspectives.
Competencies:
* The student actively participates in discussions, makes their own arguments, effectively justifies them, and engages with the arguments and positions presented by others, demonstrating the ability to engage in critical dialogue.
* The student is skilled in gathering, analyzing, and interpreting data, and can present it in a clear and structured report or essay.
* The student can independently prepare a multimedia presentation that concisely presents the information they have gathered. Using appropriate public speaking techniques, they can present the findings to an audience and respond to questions and comments.
* The student develops a more critical understanding of collective memory, becoming aware of its functions and the mechanisms through which it exerts influence.
Assessment criteria
Attendance and active participation in classes (2 absences allowed) – 40%
Midterm test – 30%
Final essay – 30%
Bibliography
Cox, Karen, L. No Common Ground: Confederate Monuments and the Ongoing Fight for Racial Justice, The University of North Carolina Press, 2021.
Doss, Erika. Memorial Mania: Public Feeling in America, The University of Chicago Press, 2010.
Gillis, John. Commemorations: the Politics of National Identity, Princton University Press, 1994.
Gutman, Yifat and Jenny Wüstenberg. The Routledge Handbook of Memory Activism, Routledge, 2023.
Halbwachs, Maurice. On Collective Memory, The University of Chicago Press, 1992.
Kaplan, Brett Ashley (ed). Critical Memory Studies: New Approaches, Bloomsbury Academics, 2023.
Morris, Charles, E (ed.) Remembering the AIDS Quilt, Michigan State University Press, 2011.
Olick, Jeffrey, Vered Vinitzky-Seroussi, and Daniel Levy (eds.) The Collective Memory Reader, Oxford University Press, 2012.
Rigney, Ann and Thomas Smits (eds.) The Visual Memory of Protest, Amsterdam University Press, 2023.
Rowley, Matthew. Trump and the Protestant Reaction to Make America Great Again, Routledge, 2022.
Savage, Kirk. Standing Soldiers, Kneeling Slaves, Princton University Press, 1997.
Sturken, Marita. Terrorism in American Memory: Memorials, Museums, and Architecture in the Post-9/11 Era, New York University Press, 2022.
Tell, Dave. Remembering Emmett Till, The University of Chicago Press, 2019.
Rozas-Krauze, Valentina and Andrew M. Shanken (eds.) Breaking the Bronze Ceiling: Women, Memory, and Public Space, Fordham University Press, 2024.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: