Memory, History and Narrative: Shifts of Meaning when (Re)constructing the Past

Abstract

This paper is devoted to the examination of some socio-cultural dimensions of memory, focusing on narratives as a meditational tool (Vygotsky, 1978) for the construction of past events and attribution of meaning. The five elements of Kenneth Burke's Grammar of Motives (1969) are taken as a framework for the examination of reconstructions of the past and particularly of histories, namely: 1) the interpretative and reconstructive action of 2) a positioned agent operating 3) through narrative means 4) addressed to particular purposes 5) within a concrete social and temporal scenery. The reflexive character of such approach opens the ground for considering remembering as one kind of act performed within the context of a set of ongoing actions, so that remembrances play a directive role for action and so have an unavoidable moral dimension. This is particularly relevant for some kinds of social memory such as history teaching and their effects upon identity.

Engaging older people through visual participatory research: Insights and reflections

“…Photos played different roles for the participants (Brescó de Luna and Rosa, 2012). For some, photos enabled them to present their past stories to others.…”

“…(Mysyuk and Huisman, 2020;Crete-Nihihata et al, 2012). These images , including photographs and film, can act as symbolic keys which reveal insight into the past, can act as metaphors for experience (Tishelman et al, 2016;Brescó de Luna and Rosa, 2012 ), and facilitate self-reflection (Wang and Redwood-Jones, 2001), Indeed photographs in their materiality can act as a physical prop (Hanganu, et al, 2004) appreciated by older people, linking the past to the present (Wilson, 2018). Yet despite the advantages of participant generated images, there remains an underappreciation of amateur participant generated images in social science research (Balomenou and Garrod, 2016).…”

Reconstructing the ‘Reconquista’: Students’ negotiation of a Spanish master narrative

“…'the Muslims invaded', 'the Christians reconquered'). In terms of Burke's (1969) pentad, five narrative elements can be analysed: agent, act, agency, scene and purpose (see also Brescó and Rosa, 2012). We focused especially on the first two; however, the agency, purpose and scene were closely connected and will also be discussed.…”

Inherited memory, social learning, and resilience: lessons from Spain's Great Blizzard of 1888

“…We only have information linked to inherited memories that can be transmitted orally or via other sources that store and interpret the past. These factors will inevitably influence how memories are built and rebuilt (Brescó de Luna & Rosa, ; Choudhury & Haque, ).…”