Sociology of Memory
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course is aimed at providing a critical understanding of the main theories and methodologies used in the study of memory as a social phenomenon and, in particular, the links existing between memory and society and the relationships that social groups establish not only with their past, but also with their present and future. It also aims at providing suitable tools, in the field of social sciences, for addressing the mechanisms of remembering and oblivion that mostly affect contemporary societies, focusing in particular on the relationships between memory and violence through the analysis of case-studies. Finally, this will allow students to become familiar with the language and theories developed in this field and to develop capacities aimed at providing a critical analysis of the topics addressed (through oral and written presentations and team-work).
Expected learning outcomes
Students are required to show an adequate understanding of the key-concepts, authors and methods of sociology of memory and the topics addressed in the special part of the programme, such as war, colonialism, the nexus existing between Nazism, Fascism and racism, terrorism and the strategy of tension, Mafia violence and Mediterranean migrations.
The use of a proper language and the ability to link together different contents and topics will be particularly appreciated.
The use of a proper language and the ability to link together different contents and topics will be particularly appreciated.
Lesson period: Third trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Third trimester
Course syllabus
In the first part the course is aimed at familiarizing students with conceptual tools used by social theory in the study of memory and with the field of memory studies. This introductory part deals with the links existing between memory and society and the relationships that both individuals and social groups entertain with their past - but also with their future.
In the second part, attention is devoted to the relationships existing among memory, violence and trauma, in particular in the recent history of European society. In this regard, among the course's main topics there will be some traumatic social, political and cultural events which have marked the process of elaboration, selection and/or removal of the past at public level such as, for example, the war, colonialism, Shoah and the links between Nazism, fascism and racism, terrorism, Mafia violence, Mediterranean migrations and traumatic memory linked to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the second part, attention is devoted to the relationships existing among memory, violence and trauma, in particular in the recent history of European society. In this regard, among the course's main topics there will be some traumatic social, political and cultural events which have marked the process of elaboration, selection and/or removal of the past at public level such as, for example, the war, colonialism, Shoah and the links between Nazism, fascism and racism, terrorism, Mafia violence, Mediterranean migrations and traumatic memory linked to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Prerequisites for admission
A basic knowledge of the sociological language may facilitate the understanding of the topics addressed, although no specific prerequisite is required.
Teaching methods
The course includes frontal introductory lessons, seminars and discussions with experts and observers (even in case of on-line learning through Microsoft Teams) and students' active participation through discussions, group work, presentations and papers.
Teaching Resources
For the general part students attending the course will refer to a reading list that will be made available on MyAriel during the first weeks of the course.
For the second part, students attending the course are required to choose 1 topic, among the 6 listed below, which they will focus on. The bibliography related to each of the 6 topics will be disseminated during the first weeks of lessons and made available on the MyAriel web-page of this course. Each topic will be discussed during a group discussion (through a presentation) and dealt with in a paper.
The 6 topics that will be addressed in the special part of the programme are inter alia:
1. Wars, memory and remembering practices;
2. Colonialism and return of memory in the post-colonial Europe;
3. Antisemitism, Shoah and modernity;
4. Mafia violence, terrorism and collective memory;
5. Mediterranean migrations, memories and identities;
6. Making memory of current times: the experience of COVID-19 pandemic.
For the general part of the programme, students not attending the course should refer to the following texts:
- Alexander, J., Trauma. La rappresentazione sociale del dolore, Meltemi, Roma, 2018 [available in the Library];
- P. Jedlowski, Memorie del futuro. Un percorso tra sociologia e studi culturali, Carocci, Roma, 2017 [available in the Library];
- a collection of articles focussing on the topics addressed in the course which will be disseminated during the first weeks of the course and made available on the MyAriel web-page.
For the second part, students attending the course are required to choose 1 topic, among the 6 listed below, which they will focus on. The bibliography related to each of the 6 topics will be disseminated during the first weeks of lessons and made available on the MyAriel web-page of this course. Each topic will be discussed during a group discussion (through a presentation) and dealt with in a paper.
The 6 topics that will be addressed in the special part of the programme are inter alia:
1. Wars, memory and remembering practices;
2. Colonialism and return of memory in the post-colonial Europe;
3. Antisemitism, Shoah and modernity;
4. Mafia violence, terrorism and collective memory;
5. Mediterranean migrations, memories and identities;
6. Making memory of current times: the experience of COVID-19 pandemic.
For the general part of the programme, students not attending the course should refer to the following texts:
- Alexander, J., Trauma. La rappresentazione sociale del dolore, Meltemi, Roma, 2018 [available in the Library];
- P. Jedlowski, Memorie del futuro. Un percorso tra sociologia e studi culturali, Carocci, Roma, 2017 [available in the Library];
- a collection of articles focussing on the topics addressed in the course which will be disseminated during the first weeks of the course and made available on the MyAriel web-page.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final exam consists in an oral test whose results will be evaluated along the scale 18-30. Students are required to show the achievement of an adequate understanding of key-concepts, authors, theories and methods of sociology of memory and a critical capacity to re-elaborate them. The use of a proper language and the ability to link together different contents and topics will be particularly appreciated. Students attending the course will have the chance to participate, during the lessons, to seminars and meetings with experts and group discussions (even in case of on-line learning through Microsoft Teams), intermediate tests, and will write a final paper focussing on one of the topics addressed in the special part of the programme.
SPS/07 - GENERAL SOCIOLOGY - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Massari Monica
Shifts:
Turno
Professor:
Massari MonicaProfessor(s)
Reception:
Presso lo studio della docente (piano ammezzato sopra al bar) o su Teams