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S-Culture-Gender-Media: Conceptualising Cultural Memory in Contemporary British Literature

Marie Catherine Menzel

Kommentar

In this class, we will be approaching “memory” from the perspective of what is sometimes called “new cultural memory studies” (Erll Memory in Culture, 13). Paralleling other postmodern critical moments, this research field developed under the influence of poststructuralism and the notion of social and cultural construction, with roots in the early 20th century and a significant presence in the humanities since the 1980s and 90s. At the core of this perspective lies the conceptualisation of “memory” in its qualities as a constructed collective, cultural, and social phenomenon.

In the course of the semester, we will first familiarise ourselves with some foundational theoretical perspectives on memory (and cultural memory) as socially constructed and collective. Then, we will look into some topics pertaining to a specifically British collective and cultural form of memory, touching on topics such as national identity narratives. And finally, we will discuss some literary representations of British collective memory, covering both their memory-reflexive and memory-productive aspects.

Required Reading:

Students need to acquire access to the following novels, further required reading will be made available via Blackboard:

Small Island by Andrea Levy

England, England by Julian Barnes

The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro

Suggested introductory and preparatory reading (excerpts will be read in class):

Memory in Culture by Astrid Erll

The Making of English National Identity by Krishan Kumar

The Social Construction of Reality: A Treatise in the Sociology of Knowledge by Peter L. Berger and Thomas Luckmann

Requirements for course participation:

Successful completion of the module “Introduction to Cultural Studies”.

Assessment:

Assessment for full credits is done on the basis of regular attendance, active participation in all class activities (e.g. assignments, presentations, group work, quizzes, preparation of the required reading), and—depending on your chosen module type—a ca. 4000 word essay.

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