Remembering and understanding the past. The value of literature for Memory Studies

Abstract

The article traces the emergence and evolution of the field of memory studies and its impact on the study of literature. It reconstructs the initial first and second waves of memory research, and it highlights key trends in its third and fourth phases. The article then examines the main theories of cultural memory studies and explores the role of literature in shaping collective memory dynamics. While the theoretical foundations of cultural memory studies prioritise intermedial and contextualist interpretations of culture, potentially downplaying the significance of literature, the article shows that recent works with a focus on the ethical dimensions of memory narratives have reaffirmed the crucial role of literature as a heuristic tool for understanding and reflecting on the past and present. As a result, despite the theoretical trajectory of the field, memory studies research interested in developing a complex ethical perspective on the past continues to affirm and preserve literature’s enduring value.