![]() Halbwachs’ legacy endures with scholars such as Patrick Geary and Lynn Abrams who still turn to Halbwachs’ fundamental observation within their own work. This is perhaps one of Halbwachs’ most resonating points, and his ideas were later reinforced by the experiments of psychologist Fredric Bartlett in 1932. The product of this can be referred to as ‘a memory’. Here, Halbwachs indicated that the act of remembering in regards to individual memory is where somebody reconstructs a past experienced event within their own mind, but that ultimately this is a changed version of the actual event. He notes how all personal memories (except for dreams) when remembered are reconstructed within a series of social structures which impact upon the individual at the time of the experience. ![]() Halbwachs, a sociologist, recognised that the individual’s memory was in fact a socially manipulated reconstruction of a past event. Later, in 1950, a posthumously published work ‘ La mémoir collective’ explained what he entitled individual and collective memories and their interdependent relationship. The first, arguably his magnum opus, entitled ‘ Les Cadres sociaux de la mémoire’ (or The Social Frameworks of Memory in English) published in 1925, set out an examination of how memories are made and manipulated within social frameworks. Halbwachs contributed two key pieces of literature in regards to memory studies. Thus, Halbwachs’ writings are necessary to understand for those wishing to appreciate the relative importance of remembrance. Whilst Olick’s critique of Halbwachs’ work as dated is true and Halbwachs’ over dependence on assumed Durkheimian theory, the writings of Halbwachs have had a profound impact upon contemporary studies. The final section aims to argue that what is forgotten is equally as important as what is remembered in the example of the symbolic Remembrance poppy.ĭespite the protestations of contemporary scholars such as Jeffery Olick who has highlighted around 250 pre-Halbwachs texts on the topic, I believe that the most logical place to start an examination of remembrance is in the classical works of Maurice Halbwachs, who is considered by some academics to be the field of ‘memory studies’ most prominent founding father. Both these examinations will expose the development of the concepts, highlight areas of debate and where those continue currently. The second will continue to examine the historiographical discourse, this time looking at forgetting, primarily focusing upon the work of David Lowenthal and contemporary scholars. The work of Maurice Halbwachs and Pierre Nora shall feature prominently in this discussion. The first aims to examine the historiographical discourse of remembering via the analysis of both contemporary and classic literature. This essay has been divided into three complimentary parts. However, where scholars have addressed the topic of memory using their own nomenclature, their original phrasing will remain the same, although an attempt to link their titles to my own will be made. Fulbrook has underscored the distinction between ‘memory’ as purely an experienced event by an individual and ‘remembering’ to refer to those with indirect knowledge of an event. ![]() In addition, for the sake of clarity this essay will aim to follow the example set by the historian Mary Fulbrook where possible. As a result, it should be noted therefore that this short paper will address ‘memory studies’ primarily from a humanities perspective. The word ‘memory’ itself is a rather simple one, but within the scholarly fields of the humanities, and the social and natural sciences, an exact definition agreed by all has yet to be found. When one speaks of remembering and forgetting, what one will usually be referring to is the concept of ‘memory’. (Front) Irish Branch of the Royal British Legion’s 2020 ‘Shamrock Poppy’, 2020 Newcastle United Poppy (Back row) Canadian poppy (2018), Irish Branch of the Royal British Legion’s ‘Shamrock Poppy’ (2017), Australian Poppy (2019) Remembrance Poppies come in various forms: Different editions are produced around the world.
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