Beschreibung
Memory is one of the most important ways in which we construct individual
and collective identies. Memory constantly surrounds us as in literarture,
films, historical accounts, psychologists’ talk, or everyday
conversations. At the same time, memory has become a culturally contested
praxis in the context of 20th century identity politics inside and outside
the academy.
This book offers a comprehensive exploration of the discoursive
construction of memory and seeks to explore the cultural work performed by
these constructions. Approaching the juncture of memory and identity from
an interdisciplinary and global and drawing on S. Hall’s assertion that
culture and identity are irrevocably intertwined through memory, the
essays collected here provide informed readings on a variety of topics and
contexts. In their opening remarks. the editors establish a context in
which the interrelationships between culture, identity and memory are
played off against the problematics of loss of and reinvention of “self”
in a globalized and yet localized world.
In this collection which brings together work by young American Studies
scholars from various European contexts and disciplinary fields, the
reader will find contributions located in cultural and literary studies,
the visual arts, philosophy, and history. In its interdisciplinary and
international orientation this book is a showcase of the important work
done by the current generation of Americanists in Europe.
Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Kunow is Professor of American Literature and Culture at the University of Potsdam
and President of the German Association for American Studies.
Prof. Dr. Wilfried Raussert is Professor for American Literature and Culture and Co-Director of Inter-
American Studies at the University of Bielefeld.
