THE ROLE OF COLLECTIVE MEMORY IN THE PROCESS OF COMMUNITY FORMATION: THE SQUARE AS A «PLACE OF MEMORY»

Abstract

For a considerable period of time, memory was solely examined as an individual’s cognitive function, frequently alongside other cognitive processes such as perception or thinking. However, if we look back at the development of philosophical thought, we find a number of thorough explanations for this concept that go beyond individuation. In the Bergsonian model, for example, a certain gradation of types of memory appears, which is not only reduced to human cognitive functions, but also reaches the practical level of human existence. Therefore, when we discuss the memory of a group of people, especially when it comes to large communities or whole nations, the task of clearly defining this phenomenon becomes somewhat complicated. Maurice Halbwachs, the French philosopher and sociologist, claimed that collective memory is a social construct, formed and maintained through social interactions [11, p. 39]. The scientist is considered one of the pioneering researchers on the topic. He articulated the assertion that collective memory is a pool of recollections shared by members of the same community. Memory formation is not a static set of recollections; instead, it is a dynamic process that is constantly updated in accordance with the demands and contexts of today. Collective memory is, however, one of the fundamental components of the functioning and even formation of communities. Within a given society, there can be as many variants of collective memory as there are distinct social groups within that society. This article outlines the idea of how collective memory impacts the process of community formation and provides examples of historical events, the memory of which played a significant role in the formation of the identities of various nations. In addition, the French philosopher P. Nora’s concept of «places of memory» is explained, and a number of their examples are given.