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Emotional Remembering: The Pragmatics of National Memory
Author(s) -
White Geoffrey M.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
ethos
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.783
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1548-1352
pISSN - 0091-2131
DOI - 10.1525/eth.1999.27.4.505
Subject(s) - repertoire , collective memory , context (archaeology) , narrative , representation (politics) , pragmatics , sociology , psychology , media studies , social psychology , history , linguistics , political science , literature , politics , law , art , archaeology , philosophy
This paper examines spaces in between the "out there" of collective representation and the "in here" of personal cognition and emotion by focusing on acts of public remembrance that are at once individual and collective, personal and national. Reporting on research carried out at the U.S. national memorial to the bombing attack at Pearl Harbor that drew America into World War II, the paper analyzes the discourse of "survivors" who present personal stories in the memorial context. The analysis argues that a repertoire of discursive strategies functions to emotionalize national narrative, while at the same time works to nationalize personal pasts.