sociological perspectives on memory

sociological perspectives on memory

1. INDIVIDUAL MEMORY

   • refers to the person who is engaged in memory on any given occasion

2. SOCIAL MEMORY

   • memory shared by those who are already related to each other (family, friendship, acquaintance)
   • there can be social memory of events one did not personally experience
   • social memories are not necessarily public
   • "sharing memories" doesn't mean having the same experience of remembering but remembering something others in one's group also remember

3. COLLECTIVE MEMORY

   • different persons, not necessarily known to each other, recall the same event
     • commonality of content
       • shared focus not experience
         • "flashbulb memories" (Kennedy assassination, 9/11)
       • distributed over population and place

4. PUBLIC MEMORY

   • attached to a past (an originating event) and acts to ensure future remembrance of that same event
   • the memory of publics
   • the publicness of memory
   • formation through ongoing exchange of ideas

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