Handbook of contemporary sociological Theory

Abstract

Memory is rarely considered an essential tool for sociological theorizing. Yet an understanding of memory as integral to the core of social life—indeed as the very tissue that binds collectivities together—has been inscribed in the sociological tradition from the beginning. Challenging the assumption that memory is a special interest—a sub-subfield within cultural sociology—this chapter argues for moving the concept of “collective memory” from the periphery of sociological theorizing to its core. In particular, current debates and conversations in the collective memory literature can advance two major projects in contemporary theory: (1) the effort to theorize the epoch in which we live, be it—for instance—“late,” “post,” “reflexive,” or “liquid” modern, and (2) the effort to define the meaning of “culture” and specify its role in larger social processes, a project that has simultaneously captivated and perplexed sociologists since the “cultural turn.” Accordingly, this chapter briefly traces the history of the “collective memory” concept and its revival in the 1980s, then draws from the field’s vibrant debates to reveal how the memory literature addresses broader theoretical questions.