How Societies Remember – Paul Connerton – 1989, Cambridge University Press
How Societies Remember: Exploring Collective Memory
Paul Connerton’s How Societies Remember examines the ways in which communities maintain their histories and identities not through conscious recollection, but through ritualized practices. The author challenges traditional understandings of memory as solely an individual cognitive process, arguing instead that memory is fundamentally social and embodied. Connerton identifies seven ‘practices’ through which collective memory is secured: commemorative ceremonies, festive performances, monumental signs, oral traditions, written texts, archival record-keeping, and material objects.
Historical / Cultural Context
Published in 1989, How Societies Remember emerged from a burgeoning field of inquiry into collective memory spurred by the work of Maurice Halbwachs earlier in the 20th century. Connerton’s work distinguished itself by providing a detailed typology of remembering practices. The book was significantly influenced by anthropological studies of ritual and performance, and its focus on the body as a site of memory resonated with contemporary debates in social theory. The late 20th century saw increased interest in understanding how collective narratives shaped national identities, social movements, and political ideologies, providing a fertile ground for Connerton’s ideas to take root. Understanding how societies actively *forget* is also implicit in Connerton’s analysis – the choice of what rituals to maintain, what monuments to build, and what stories to tell inevitably involves a selective process.
Who This Book Is For
This work is of primary interest to academics and students in fields such as sociology, anthropology, history, memory studies, and cultural studies. However, its accessible writing style and compelling arguments also make it valuable for general readers interested in understanding the construction of collective identity and the social processes of remembering and forgetting. Readers interested in the relationship between ritual, performance, and social cohesion will find this book particularly insightful.
Further Reading
- Maurice Halbwachs, On Collective Memory (1992): A foundational text in the field of collective memory.
- Pierre Nora, Realms of Memory (1996-1998): A multi-volume exploration of French national identity and its relationship to lieux de mémoire (sites of memory).
- Jan Assmann, Cultural Memory and Early Civilization (2011): Examines the role of cultural memory in the formation of ancient civilizations.
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