Memory

by Philippe Tortell (Editor), Philippe Tortell (Editor), Mark Turin (Editor)

This book examines the character and relevance of remembrance, inviting readers to think creatively and deeply about the ways that memories are transmitted, recorded, and distorted through time and space. Ranging from molecular genetics and astrophysics to law and Indigenous oral histories, the essays draw from a diverse group of contributors to capture different perspectives on memory. Reflecting upon memory in engaging and unexpected ways, this collection offers an interdisciplinary roadmap for exploring how, why, and when we remember.

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 14, 2018

Reviews

[Avvai · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating collection of essays by experts in their fields and their different perspectives on memory. The idea of memory is looked at from all different angles from various different subject matters Psychologists look at how we as humans remember, how our memory works, why we have memory. Anthropologists, historians, and environmentalists look at what we choose to remember, what is forgotten, and how that affects our society and culture. There were a couple essays on earth's memory and how memory is encoded in genetics. Architecture, art, the ocean, and even materials used to build things all have a form of memory.

This book challenged some of my thoughts on certain historical periods and made me see how powerful memory is. It shapes who we are and what we do. It has also made me see museums and places where historical things are gathered in a different light as well. These memory collecting places shape our collective memories on past cultures and time periods and it also shapes our current narratives.

There's a lot to unpack in this book and it'd be great to read with a friend and discuss some of the big ideas after each essay.

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There were some beautiful quotes in this book as well that I will be returning to:
"By constructing memories afresh every time we recall them, we also make those memories relevant to our current experiences - highlighting the aspects of a memory that are most significant to our current self while downplaying the aspects that may have been most salient to our past self."

"..we are gaining a deeper understanding of the flexibility and vulnerability of our personal and collective memories, we have yet to fully appreciate that the same factors may also constrain our ability to imagine the future. ... How do we ensure that we are not putting unintentional limits on the futures we imagine?"

"Art links us to nonverbal memories of the past through the traces of what once was, or might still be, and allows us to share glimpses of those memories with others."

"Historical and cultural memories are often policial, an attempt to impose particular narrativess on the present and to justify certain present-day positions."

"One special category of memory molecules, known as shape memory polymers, consists of soft materials that have the ability to hold a temporary shape in the absence of an imposed stress. These materials remain in their altered state until they are subjected to a suitable stimulus that prompts a return to the original conformation In this way, shape memory polymers have the capacity to store memories of shape for extended periods of time"

"In settler colonial societies, historical injustices are perpetuated not only by institutions, laws, and policies but also by what is remembered by individuals, families, communities, and nations."

[Maya · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was under the misconception that this book would be scholarly. It isn't. It's published by UBC Press and is full of academic authors, but the lack of sources and citations is frustrating. Don't pick this up expecting material for your university research paper. It's an enjoyable and fast read, but is a lightweight in terms of interdisciplinary memory discourse. The cover is very stylish, though.

[Srikanth Parthasarathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating read. Memory as a theme is captured brilliantly in all the essays. Very interesting!

[Julie]

DNF