Collective Memory in Mass Media & Society Audrey D

Definition & Origin  Shared pool of knowledge and info in the memories of 2 or more members of a social group  French philosopher & sociologist, Maurice Halbwachs, 1950  “La memoire collective” book  Can be shared, passed on and constructed by large and small social groups  Provides sense of identity and can unify

Past Mass Mediums & CM  Film  Images, scenes, quotes, songs, characters compose audience’s collective memory  Newsreels of news stories from around the world  First time a mass audience could view stories, events & scenes at the same time  Television  Series & Live News broadcasts; scenes & characters ingrained in public’s Collective Memory  Real-time news stories shown on same day event happened; eventually broadcast live on air

“What were you doing when…?”  Large heavily mediatized event as a milestone in individual or group’s life  September 11 th terrorist attack, 2001  OJ Simpson car chase and trial, 199  Assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, 1963  References to media events make it easy for larger & worldwide audience to recognize and understand  People compare their own life w. depicted ideal life shown on screen  Sometimes past events do not rest in Collective Memory of next generation

Conflict Theory  Polarizing social & political events broadcast in the media  CM can be used by the powerful to shape public agenda to their own benefit  ISIS propaganda videos globally accessible via Internet  Can also unify disparate groups combating oppressive regimes  Arab Spring citizen protests organized through mass communication technologies like text messaging and social media

CM in Today’s Society  Citizen journalists using YouTube to broadcast events as they happen  Viral videos often create social discourse & become ingrained in people’s minds since they were not there themselves  Popular Culture & Entertainment Media  Performances & speeches at awards shows or events on TV  TMZ reporting celebrity gossip; has TMZ sports channel