Cultural Memory

The concept and theory of cultural memory were introduced by Aleida and Jan Assmann, marking the beginning of cultural memory studies—a multidisciplinary field that draws from history, anthropology, archaeology, religious studies, media theory, literary studies, and sociology (Erl, 2011). Aleida Assmann defines cultural memory as a "system of values, artifacts, institutions, and practices that retain the past for the present and the future”. (Assmann, 2021) Cultural memory transfers and preserves historical knowledge and by doing so it also “supports the emergence and elaboration of distinct identities, because humans define themselves and are defined by their affiliation to one or various cultural groups and traditions” (Assmann, 2021).

Cultural memory refers to the shared pool of knowledge, narratives, and symbols through which communities remember their past, but it is as much about forgetting as it is about remembering. It is shaped by acts of selection, framing certain events while omitting others, often reflecting present needs and power structures. Unlike history, which aims to be comprehensive and analytical, cultural memory is commemorative and selective—it highlights emotionally resonant or symbolically significant moments to sustain collective identity. In this way, memory and history may diverge, as not all histories are remembered: cultural memory retains what is meaningful to the present, not necessarily what is complete or objective.

The term cultural memory has roots in the theories of Maurice Halbwachs and Aby Warburg, who both moved away from understanding memory in purely biological terms and instead explored its cultural dimensions. Halbwachs, in particular, developed the theory of collective memory, arguing that memory is embedded within and dependent on social structures. This marked a departure from earlier psychological models, such as those by Sigmund Freud, which focused on the individual. Halbwachs emphasized the role of communication, cultural norms, language, and customs in shaping both personal and collective memory. As he wrote: “One may say that the individual remembers by placing himself in the perspective of the group, but one may also affirm that the memory of the group realizes and manifests itself in individual memories” (Halbwachs, 1992, p. 40).

Communicative and Cultural Memory

Jan Assmann further developed this line of thought by distinguishing between communicative memory and cultural memory. (Assmann, 2008) Communicative memory refers to everyday, informal recollections—memories passed on through interpersonal communication, personal experiences, and oral history. It is limited in scope and duration, typically spanning 80 to 100 years, and remains closely tied to living memory. Cultural memory, on the other hand, is institutionalised, performed, and mediated. It is transmitted through commemorative practices—such as rituals, ceremonies, texts, and images—and is often used to shape a society’s self-image through an organised engagement with the past. According to Jan Assmann, cultural memory serves not only to preserve the past but also to cultivate identity and cohesion across generations.(Assman, 2008)

Emergence of Cultural Memory Studies

In the 1980s, the term cultural memory re-emerged and was further developed into what is now known as Cultural Memory Studies. Within memory studies, personal and collective identity are examined as being rooted in a specific culture as well as in broader social and political contexts. Acts of cultural remembering are thus studied as “an element of humans’ fundamental anthropological make-up,” and cultural memory—constructed and maintained institutionally and through memory practices—is seen as crucial in shaping identities (Erl, 2011, p. 13). 

References

Assmann, A. (2021). Cultural memory. In A. Hamburger, C. Hancheva, & V. D. Volkan (Eds.), Social trauma – An interdisciplinary textbook (25-36). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-47817-9_3

Halbwachs, M. (1992). On collective memory (L. A. Coser, Ed. & Trans.). University of Chicago Press. (Original work published 1950)

Erll, A. (2011). The invention of cultural memory: A short history of memory studies. In Memory in culture (pp. 13–37). Palgrave Macmillan UK. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230321670_2

Assmann, J. (2008). Communicative and cultural memory. In A. Erll & A. Nünning (Eds.), Cultural memory studies: An international and interdisciplinary handbook (pp. 109–118). De Gruyter.