Media and various forms of memory wars

Timetable

Timetable for online classes: start: mid April end: mid June,

On place seminar in Karlsruhe September 2024 (3-4 days)

Module aim (aims)

The course shall provide students with a basic introduction into scientific methods which allow us to analyze incidents of memory wars in literary texts, audiovisual media (film, TV) and social media. These methods then shall be applied by students in the context of different key-studies.

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

Course will be in English; It is highly recomended to complete the introductionary course from the winter semester (Representations of Historical Injustice in Media).

Syllabus

Topic
Introduction (Prof. Böhn & Prof. Werner & Prof. Pangalos & Prof. Kavala)
Case studies from Greece 1
Case studies from Greece 2
Case studies from Germany 1
Case studies from Germany 2
Case studies from Poland 1
Case studies from Poland 2
On place seminar in Karlsruhe September 2024 (3-4 days)

 

 

Problems and topics which will be presented and analyzed in the course:

The term ‘memory war’ is used to describe conflicts that relate to historical events and their role in actual contemporary discussions. As collective identity is based not only on objective conditions like a common language, but also on symbolic conditions like historical memory, memory wars often have to do with the formation of the collective identity of a group, be it a nation, an ethnic, religious, or linguistic minority, or a group that has suffered from discrimination in the past like women, African Americans, or homosexuals. They may also be the effect of strategies of empowerment of a (minoritarian or under-privileged) group through putting into doubt the mainstream of historical narratives that has focused on the majoritarian or privileged part of the population. Political factors play a major role in the process of identity creation by using cultural memory (historical policy), as well inside societies as between rivaling states (disputed memory).

 

The course shall provide students with a basic introduction into scientific methods which allow us to analyze incidents of memory wars in literary texts, audiovisual media (film, TV) and social media. These methods then shall be applied by students in the context of different key-studies.

 

Assesment:

- mandatory paricipation at on-line classes

- final project presentation during Karlsruhe seminar

 

Reading list

Useful for an introductory overview: Rutten, Ellen/Fedor, Julie/Zvereva, Vera (Eds.): Memory, Conflict and New Media. Web Wars in Post-Socialist States, London 2014