In the Handbook of Culture and Memory, Brady Wagoner and his team of international contributors explore how memory is deeply entwined with social relationships, stories in film and literature, group history, ritual practices, material artifacts, and a host of other cultural devices. Culture is seen as the medium through which people live and make meaning of their lives. In this book, analyses focus on the mutual constitution of people's memories and the social-cultural worlds to which they belong.
The complex relationship between culture and memory is explored in: the concept of memory and its relation to evolution, neurology and history; life course changes in memory from its development in childhood to its decline in old age; and the national and transnational organization of collective memory and identity through narratives propagated in political discourse, the classroom, and the media.
Industry Reviews
"These expansive essays offer both richly detailed surveys of cutting edge research and productive new directions. Between biology and media theory, between psychology and history, this is the book to read on memory and culture." --John Sutton, Professor, Department of Cognitive Science, Macquarie University
"This volume is essential reading for anyone interested in the role of culture in human memory. Ranging across world history, cultural variations in contemporary societies, and human development from early childhood to old age, the authors have provided a treasure trove of information that is artfully woven together by this sure-handed editorial curation." --Michael Cole, Emeritus Distinguished Professor, Department of Psychology, University of California
San Diego
"This volume makes more significant contributions than one can count, and will be a standard reference for those who wish to overcome the hard distinction between individualist and collectivist approaches to memory, which these essays accomplish through their commitment to a deep historical perspective." -- Jeffrey Keith Olick, Professor and Chair, Department of Sociology, University of Virginia
"In this urgently needed volume, Wagoner (Aalborg Univ., Denmark) and an international team of expert contributors examine the mutual constitution of cultural contexts and individuals' memories. Moving beyond fixed operationalizations of culture and memory, the volume explores the continuous, complex process of construction and reconstruction of remembering through cultural mediators. Guided by four principles of remembering as constructive, intersubjective,
contextual, and occurring with and throughout diverse media, the chapters span the evolutionary origins of memory to collective remembering...The volume is indispensable reading for anyone interested in
the dynamic relationship between culture and memory." --CHOICE
