Forms of Forgetting – Aleida Assmann – 2011
Forms of Forgetting: A Cultural History
Aleida Assmann’s Forms of Forgetting examines the complex relationship between remembering and forgetting, arguing that forgetting is not merely the absence of memory, but an active and culturally shaped process. The book delves into the various ways societies and individuals choose to forget—or are compelled to forget—traumatic experiences, uncomfortable histories, and dissenting voices. Assmann distinguishes between ‘communicative’ and ‘cultural’ forgetting, exploring how forgetting functions within interpersonal interactions and within larger societal structures.
Historical / Cultural Context
Published in 2011, Forms of Forgetting emerges from a field of memory studies that gained prominence in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, spurred by growing interest in collective memory, trauma, and the politics of historical representation. Assmann’s work engages with the foundational ideas of Maurice Halbwachs on collective memory, but expands upon them by focusing specifically on the mechanisms and motivations behind forgetting. The book responds to a cultural climate grappling with the legacies of colonialism, totalitarianism, and other forms of systemic violence, where questions of how and *whether* to remember are fraught with political and ethical implications. Assmann draws on examples from ancient Egypt, classical Greece, and modern Europe to illustrate the universality, yet culturally specific manifestations, of forgetting practices.
Who This Book Is For
This work is primarily aimed at readers with an academic interest in memory studies, cultural history, and sociology. However, its accessible style and compelling examples make it relevant to anyone interested in understanding the psychological and societal forces that shape our understanding of the past. It is beneficial for those seeking to understand how cultural narratives are constructed and maintained through selective remembering and forgetting.
Further Reading
- Maurice Halbwachs, On Collective Memory (1950): A foundational text in memory studies, exploring the social frameworks of remembering.
- Pierre Nora, Realms of Memory (1996-1998): A multi-volume exploration of the ‘lieux de mémoire’—sites of memory—in French history and culture.
- Jan Assmann, Cultural Memory and Early Civilization (1992): Jan Assmann’s work provides a complementary perspective on the formation of collective memory in ancient societies.
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