The construction of identification with mnemonic engineering—toward a conceptual framework of identity-remembering

ABSTRACT

The construction of collective memory (and the formation of people’s identification) is a social process; however, this process is under-theorized. This article proposes a conceptual framework through which to understand the identity-remembering process. Several significant elements to consider are pointed out and discussed. Mnemonic engineering indicates that social actors strategically employ available mnemonic techniques and resources to promote a preferred memory and thus identity. Mnemonic alignment and mnemonic refreshment are seen as the two primary goals of mnemonic engineering: to provide standardized memories and to renovate memories on a regular basis. Moreover, a distinction between mnemonic revolution and mnemonic reform is made to refer to the different styles that mnemonic engineerings use to deal with mnemonic sediments (the taken-for-granted memories). The almost inevitable alternatives and constant modifications are also discussed. The proposed conceptual framework is intended for application to identity-remembering cases in various social fields and differential scales.

Acknowledgments

I am indebted to Eviatar Zerubavel, Yael Zerubavel, Paul McLean, Ann Mische, Yu-Sheng Lin, and Jacqueline Ramey for their comments on concepts developed in this article. I also wish to thank the editor and anonymous reviewers for their very helpful feedback. The article is entirely the responsibility of the author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan [105-2410-H-305-059].