Lines of research

memory & communication

Theory and History of Social Memory and its Mediations

We are interested in the theoretical study of memory, as well as its trajectory and how representations of the past have been used, throughout history and in different geographical contexts, for identity construction and the justification of 'present' policies. These representations have historically been disseminated through various media, such as museums, textbooks, cinema, and the press, but also through the urban landscape and social networks.

This approach analyzes how media, narratives, and social rhetoric contribute to the formation and evolution of collective representations of the past, as well as the shaping of group identities through symbolic and discursive communication.

This approach examines the selection, manipulation, and reinterpretation of past events to construct a political identity, justify contemporary decisions, and shape collective perception, highlighting the intersection between historiography, political communication, and social memory in the political context.

This approach examines how memory narratives can motivate action, raise social awareness, and advocate for justice, highlighting the reciprocal influence between memory preservation, activist engagement, and the promotion of human rights in historical and contemporary contexts. It seeks to understand how past experiences inform and shape human rights movements today.

This approach explores how collective memory is created, reproduced, reinterpreted, or destroyed for propagandistic purposes. It examines how historical narratives are consolidated based on political or religious objectives, highlighting the crucial role of media in the construction and consolidation of certain interpretations of the past.

This approach analyzes how media address and present historical, traumatic, or significant events. It examines how the selection of stories, editorial focus, and language used by the media shape and affect the preservation of historical memory.

This approach analyzes how media address and communicate collective traumatic experiences, such as armed conflicts, genocides, or disasters. This subline of research seeks to understand the ethics and psychosocial impact of the media representation of traumas, as well as its contribution to the construction of cultural identity and social memory.

This approach examines how government strategies and media policies affect the construction and dissemination of collective memory. Additionally, it explores how the structures and developments of governmental communication evolve historically, their absences, debts, and comparative impacts, as well as the existence of mechanisms for citizen participation in official memories.

This approach analyzes how collective memory and historical representation have relegated the experiences, contributions, and struggles of women. It seeks to address challenges related to gender equity in social memory, highlighting the importance of incorporating feminist perspectives and empowering female voices in historical narrative and collective memory.

This approach analyzes how films address historical events, traumas, or cultural aspects, examining the intersection between cinematic narrative, social memory, and the creation of historical meaning. This subline of research seeks to understand how cinema shapes public perception of the past, contributing to the preservation and reinterpretation of cultural memory through visual and narrative elements.

The Memories of Europe and the Former 'Soviet Space'

The construction of nation-states, as well as European empires during the 19th century, had one of its pillars in the political use of a certain past, often mythified, militaristic, and messianic, which strongly influenced authoritarian projects in the 20th and 21st centuries. At the same time, an anti-authoritarian memory emerged, drawing from democratic political projects, self-management, and the defense of individual and collective rights.

This approach examines how media, propaganda, and official narratives have influenced the formation of national identities, as well as the representation and understanding of the Soviet legacy. This subline of research seeks to understand how communicative practices have shaped historical memory in the region, considering the complex interaction between official narratives, dissenting voices, and cultural identity in the process of preserving and negotiating the memory of the Soviet past.

This approach examines how the Kremlin and other actors strategically employ historical narrative for political and legitimizing purposes. It analyzes how historical events are selected, reinterpreted, and presented to consolidate national identity, support government authority, and justify policies. This subline of research seeks to understand the influence of historical rhetoric on the construction of collective memory in Russia, as well as its impact on public perception and the consolidation of political power.

This approach explores how the collective memory of the Russian Empire is reflected in contemporary national identity, politics, and culture. It analyzes historical narratives, monuments, education, and other means through which Russian imperial memory is preserved and interpreted, considering both the continuities and tensions between this memory and contemporary reality.

This approach examines how societies and individuals remember, process, and narrate events related to armed conflicts, focusing on how these memories impact collective identity, reconciliation, and peacebuilding.

This approach focuses on the study of how European societies and those in the former 'Soviet space' remember and process periods of political repression, including totalitarian regimes, dictatorships, and periods of authoritarian repression. It examines how these memories affect collective identity, reconciliation, transitional justice processes, and the construction of historical narratives.

This approach explores how European societies remember and reconstruct experiences of resistance, the struggle for democracy, and opposition to authoritarian regimes. It examines how these memories are transmitted, preserved, and reinterpreted across generations, and how they influence the construction of collective identities, historical reconciliation, and democratic consolidation in Europe.

Memories in Latin America

The complexity of confronting the past of Latin American peoples and the ways in which different governments and collectives in the region have used it are the subjects of study for MEYCOM. The imperial legacy, as well as the traumatic footprint of 20th-century dictatorships and the memories of those who opposed them, along with the study of various examples of transitional justice, are also part of our research lines.

This approach examines how Latin American societies construct, reinterpret, and represent their history and collective memories. It focuses on analyzing how various social actors, such as governments, media, artists, and social groups, shape narratives about the past, including periods of colonization, independence, military dictatorships, social movements, and armed conflicts. This research explores how these representations of the past impact cultural identity, politics, social justice, and collective memory in the region.

This approach focuses on the study of how Latin American societies remember, process, and narrate periods of political violence, armed conflict, state repression, human rights violations, and social criminality in the region. It examines how these memories influence collective identity, reconciliation, peacebuilding processes and transitional justice. Additionally, it analyzes the role of different actors, such as victims, human rights organizations, governments, media, and victims' associations, in constructing narratives about violence and its impact on society.

This approach explores the study of social movements and human rights organizations that work to preserve historical memory and promote justice in the region. It examines how these initiatives contribute to the construction of active and critical citizenship, as well as to the consolidation of democracy. Additionally, it analyzes the impact of these movements on promoting truth, justice, and reconciliation, and how they influence public policy formulation and social transformation in Latin America.

This approach analyzes how Latin American cinema represents and narrates significant historical, social, and cultural events in the region. It examines how Latin American films remember and reinterpret collective memory, addressing themes such as military dictatorships, armed conflicts, social movements, and processes of political transition. Additionally, it studies the impact of cinema on the construction of cultural identities, historical memory, and regional social awareness.

This approach examines how political and social actors use collective memory to promote their agendas and political objectives in the region. It focuses on analyzing how historical memories are selected, reinterpreted, and manipulated to legitimize certain political narratives, influence public opinion, and strengthen or challenge established power. Additionally, it studies how this politicization of memory affects reconciliation, transitional justice, and the construction of democracy in Latin America.

Historical Memory in Andalusia and Spain

In Spain, the phrase 'historical memory' usually refers to our current representation of a specific period of our 20th-century history: that of the Spanish Civil War and Francoism. Although chronologies vary (some include the Second Republic and the Transition), there is some consensus that the study of Francoist repression and the recovery of the memory of its victims (as well as their remains through the exhumation of mass graves of the repressed) should be at the center of research. At MEYCOM, we are interested in the reasons behind the polarization of narratives about the recent past, the journalistic coverage of memory-related topics, the role of education and the media in shaping our view of the past...

This approach analyzes the work and impact of groups and organizations that focus on the recovery of historical memory in Andalusia. It examines the activities carried out by these movements, such as the exhumation of mass graves, the dissemination of victim testimonies, the organization of commemorative events, and the promotion of justice and reparation for the victims of Francoism. Additionally, it investigates how these initiatives contribute to the construction of a more inclusive collective memory and the reconciliation process in Andalusian society.

This approach focuses on analyzing governmental and social actions aimed at addressing the traumatic past, particularly during the Spanish Civil War and the Franco dictatorship. It examines how memory policies are formulated, implemented, and evaluated, including legislative measures, reparation programs, research projects, and public education initiatives. Additionally, it studies the impact of these policies on society, reconciliation, the construction of national identity, and the preservation of democratic memory in Spain, and particularly in Andalusia.

This approach focuses on the study of museums and memory spaces dedicated to preserving, exhibiting, and contextualizing traumatic events from the past, such as dictatorships, armed conflicts, genocides, and human rights violations. This research analyzes how these museums address historical representation, official narratives, the participation of affected communities, and their impact on collective memory and the construction of national identity. Additionally, it explores the educational, cultural, and political roles of these spaces in promoting reconciliation, transitional justice, and preventing historical amnesia.

This approach analyzes how the recent past of Spain is addressed and taught within the educational system, including traumatic events, dictatorships, armed conflicts, and human rights violations. This research examines school curricula, history textbooks, pedagogical practices, and official discourses surrounding the teaching of these topics. Additionally, it explores how education about the recent past impacts the construction of national identity, collective memory, reconciliation, and the prevention of violence in society.

This approach analyzes how cinema has portrayed the Spanish Civil War and the Franco regime. It examines how various aspects of these historical periods are represented, such as political, social, and cultural conflicts, the experiences of combatants and civilians, as well as the long-term consequences of these events on Spanish society. Additionally, it studies the impact that these cinematic representations have on collective memory, national identity, and the historical debate in Spain.

This approach analyzes how the media addresses and presents democratic memory, including the Spanish Civil War, the Franco dictatorship, human rights violations, and transitional justice processes. It examines the types of information disseminated, the approaches adopted, the sources used, and the impact that this coverage has on public perception and the construction of collective memory in Spain. Additionally, it studies the relationship between the media, political actors, and civil society organizations in promoting and debating memory.

Contact
meycominfo@gmail.com

School of Communication. University of Seville (Andalusia).

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