Title of the article:

THE MECHANISMS OF HISTORICAL MEMORY REVISITED

Author(s):

Yulia D. Artamonova

Information about the author/authors

Yulia D. Artamonova — PhD in Philosophy, Associate Professor, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskiye Gory, GSP-1, 1, 119991 Moscow, Russia. E-mail: juliaartamonova@yahoo.com

Section

Theory and history of culture

Year

2018

Volume

Vol. 48

Pages

Pp. 29–40

Received

December 06, 2017

Date of publication

June 15, 2018

Index UDK

008

Index BBK

71.1

Abstract

Russian studies of historical memory are mainly focused on the “memory policy” issues; at the same time, the objective mechanisms of the functioning of historical memory are overlooked. Having analyzed a number of proposed mechanisms and showed their problematic nature, the author suggests comparing sociological studies of the perception of figures and events in the history of Russia by different age groups and cognitive studies of memory in order to reveal some mechanisms for organizing collective historical representations. The following mechanisms are revealed. 1. In collective memory, as in individual, we are not dealing with the plot ordering of events — historical memory does not build events into a steady sequence. 2. Any “key” (i.e. simply remembered) event exists in historical memory through a small number of “main” actions (for example, Peter I is perceived as one who “hacked a window to Europe” and modernized Russia, while respondents find it difficult to specify exactly which reforms were conducted by Peter I). 3. These “main actions” are not neutrally, but emotionally colored. 4. This emotional coloration is rather intense and usually polar (strictly positive or strictly negative). 5. This emotional polarity is fairly stable. 6. From this memory the “main action” is “extracted” (e.g. the Victory celebration slogan is “If necessary, we will repeat”). The mechanisms revealed indicate the impossibility of creating a consensual historical narrative.

Keywords

historical memory, scheme, experience.

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