ABSTRACT
I have stated in chapter 1 that one of the main analytical categories employed in this study is the concept of collective memory. The term collective memory covers a broad spectrum of ideas and meanings and because of this, “it is not without contention or difficulty. There are many terms for socially shared memory in circulation, including historical memory, public memory, popular memory, family memory and national memory.” 1 The term collective memory was introduced into sociological vocabulary by the French sociologist Maurice Halbwachs, who examined various meanings of collective memory and how collective memories are embedded in various aspects of American popular culture. Halbwachs also discussed how collective memory works at macro- and micro-levels, by stressing that social processes influence not only individual memories of significant events in one’s life, but also a community’s shared memories of the past. 2 In turn, shared memories are distinct from history, and relate not only to the past, but also to the present and the future. Shared memories are inherently selective, unstable and fragile, and the processes of retaining and passing them on to the next generation require social intervention through a variety of social mechanisms. These include various forms of institutionalized repetition, such as annual celebrations of important religious rituals or specific dates and events in a national history, various literary texts and other art forms, and the construction of memorial sites such as museums, statues, and monuments.
