On Media Memory: Editors’ Introduction

Abstract

The title of this volume, On Media Memory, echoes, of course, Maurice Halbwachs’ seminal work On Collective Memory (1992/1925, 1980/1950), but it also denotes the uniqueness of this volume: alongside the numerous works that are devoted to the systematic exploration of ‘collective memory’ and the increasing prevalence of this concept (or, at times catchphrase) in public discourse, this book brings ‘Media’ and ‘Mediation’ — both with capital Ms — to the forefront of the scholarly inquiry of collective recollecting. While memory researchers often look at media outlets in order to explore the field of collective memory, and media scholars increasingly investigate the role of collective memory in shaping the news, films, new-media contents and more, this book wishes to offer a comprehensive and integrative view of this theme. That is, this collection conceptualizes and probes Media Memory — not merely as a channel or process but rather as a phenomenon in itself.