This course explores the rhetoric of public and personal memory with聽particular attention paid聽to violent and traumatic memories. The course will be oriented around three distinct nodes: memory as rhetorically constructed; how public memory is intertwined with personal memory; rhetorics of repair and reconciliation.

First, a rhetorical perspective highlights how the past is not simply given but rather is constructed, framed, selected, performed, disseminated聽and received. This course will do a deep dive into the memories that are recognized as 鈥減ublic鈥� and, conversely, those memories that are 鈥渇orgotten,鈥� either by being erased outright or else distorted for public consumption. Second, public and collective memories also often shape personal memories. Therefore, this course will also examine how personal memories in turn are constructed and are inextricably intertwined with public memories. Finally, this course will then turn to questions of how we ought to respond to histories of violence and trauma. What are the tensions between truth and justice, d茅tente and reconciliation? What forms of repair have been advanced to engage with the past? This course will prove helpful to students in thinking deeply and collectively about history, violence, conflict, community, leadership, teamwork聽and reconciliation.

Learning Objectives

  • Describe what鈥檚 at stake in the study of public memory;
  • Identify and apply theoretical approaches to the study of public memory;
  • Demonstrate how personal memory is intertwined with social structures through evocative, richly observed prose;
  • Critically evaluate manifestations of public memory such as memorials, monuments聽and museums.

In this course, you will

  • Partake in an experiential learning activity where you will visit a museum, monument or memorial and reflect on collective memory;
  • Be assigned a peer with whom you will explore the challenges as well as opportunities for coming to terms with the past;
  • Participate in a group project in which you will be invited to creatively design a public memory project;
  • Be given an opportunity to interview your family members and friends to learn about your history.