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introduction
Welcome to this exploration of collective memory in creative writing, a space where personal experience meets shared histories, and individual voices merge with the collective narrative of communities, cultures, and societies. In this course, we will dive into the complex ways that memories—both our own and those inherited from the world around us—shape the stories we tell and the identities we form. Collective memory is the reservoir of shared experiences, passed down through generations, through cultural rituals, stories, and symbols. It is what binds us together as communities, offering a common ground on which to build our understanding of the past, even as it remains fluid, shifting with time, perspective, and circumstance. We may think of it as a living archive—a collective consciousness that influences how we perceive ourselves, our histories, and the societies we inhabit.
Through this course, we will explore how to weave collective memory into your writing in ways that deepen narrative layers, evoke shared histories, and resonate with larger social and cultural truths. We will draw on the works of Monique Wittig and Aby Warburg, who have used collective memory as both theme and technique, rethinking traditional narratives and crafting new, subversive ways of storytelling.
Wittig's Les Guérillères shows us how collective memory can be a tool of resistance, reclaiming voices and stories that have been erased or marginalized. Warburg's Mnemosyne Atlas reminds us that memory is often nonlinear and visual, a collage of images, symbols, and gestures that repeat across time. Their work will guide us as we rethink how to draw on shared histories—whether through myth, family stories, or the cultural symbols embedded in everyday life.
Let's think of this course as a way to explore the tension between personal and shared experiences—how they inform each other, enrich your voice, and offer new ways of telling stories that resonate deeply with others. Let's access memory not just as a repository of facts, but as a dynamic, creative force that can transform your writing into a space where the past and present meet, collide, and evolve. Let’s begin this journey into collective memory—your story, our story, reimagined and retold.
theory
Collective memory refers to the shared pool of knowledge, experiences, and cultural memories that a group of people—whether a family, a community, or an entire society—holds in common. It is different from personal memory, as it transcends the individual and is built through social interactions, shared narratives, and cultural rituals. Collective memory plays a significant role in shaping group identity and can persist across generations, constantly being reinterpreted and reshaped according to the present needs of the community.
Philosophical Perspectives
Philosophically, collective memory raises deep questions about the nature of history, truth, and identity. Paul Ricoeur explored the distinction between memory, history, and forgetting in his work. According to Ricoeur, collective memory is a key component of cultural identity but is inherently selective and interpretive. Memory, he argues, is never a neutral recounting of the past; instead, it is always shaped by narrative structures that reflect current needs or ideologies. In this way, collective memory is not simply a record of what happened but a story told for particular purposes.
The philosopher Jacques Derrida further problematized the idea of collective memory by exploring how it operates within what he calls "archive fever"—the desire to record and preserve memories in an official or authoritative way.Derrida argued that the act of archiving or memorializing often comes with power dynamics that determine what is remembered and what is forgotten. In collective memory, there is always the danger of marginalizing or erasing certain narratives to preserve dominant ones. This leads to a selective amnesia, where certain voices or events are systematically silenced in favor of the grand, often nationalistic, collective narrative.
Additionally, Hannah Arendt explored how collective memory influences political action and public spaces. In her view, the stories we tell about the past shape our capacity for political judgment and participation. Collective memory is therefore not just about remembering but also about engaging in public life and constructing a shared world with others.
Psychological Perspectives
In psychology, collective memory is closely linked to how groups perceive themselves and their history. Cognitive psychologist Frederic Bartlett was one of the pioneers in the study of memory, and his idea of "reconstructive memory" is essential to understanding the concept of collective memory. According to Bartlett, memory is not a static, accurate recording of past events but a dynamic process of reconstruction influenced by social frameworks. Collective memory follows a similar process but operates at the group level, where narratives are often reinterpreted based on current social or political contexts.
Maurice Halbwachs, a key figure in the sociology of memory, emphasized that memories are constructed within a social framework. In his view, individuals recall events not in isolation but within the context of shared experiences and societal norms. Halbwachs believed that even personal memories are often shaped by the collective memory of the group to which an individual belongs. For example, families, nations, or religious groups share collective memories that frame individual recollections. Through repeated telling and ritual, certain events become ingrained as the defining narratives of that group, even if individual memories deviate from them.
In psychology, collective memory also affects identity formation. Groups form a sense of who they are based on shared narratives about their past. This, in turn, can influence group cohesion, group behaviors, and even intergroup conflicts. For example, nations often rely on collective memory to define national identity, drawing on events like wars, revolutions, or moments of collective trauma to create a shared sense of purpose.
inspirations
Aby Warburg: Mnemosyne Atlas (1924-1929)
Aby Warburg’s Mnemosyne Atlas is a monumental project in the study of art history, collective memory, and visual culture. Warburg aimed to map out the “afterlife” of classical antiquity in Western art, tracing how symbols, gestures, and images from ancient culture persisted and were reinterpreted over centuries. The atlas consists of panels filled with photographs of artworks, manuscripts, and other cultural artifacts, all arranged according to thematic and iconographic associations.
Warburg’s work on collective memory focuses on how visual culture carries the traces of shared histories. He was particularly interested in the pathos formulas, or emotional gestures, that repeated across different epochs and cultures. Warburg’s methodology in Mnemosyne Atlas mirrors how collective memory works: it is nonlinear, associative, and constantly in flux. Rather than presenting history as a chronological series of events, Warburg emphasized the connections, echoes, and recurrences that make up the cultural memory of a society. His Mnemosyne Atlas operates as a form of visual collective memory, where images themselves become repositories of cultural history. Warburg believed that collective memory is encoded in visual symbols that outlast the cultures that originally produced them. His project is an effort to make visible the unconscious processes of memory that permeate art and cultural production over time. In this way, Warburg’s work can be seen as an exploration of the psychological underpinnings of collective memory, where images act as mnemonic devices that link the past and present in ways that are not always obvious or conscious.
Monique Wittig’s Les Guérillères is a feminist, experimental novel that reimagines history and language through the lens of collective memory. Wittig constructs a world where a group of women—the Guérillères—form a collective that remembers and reshapes their shared past in the context of struggle, liberation, and feminist revolt. The novel challenges traditional male-dominated narratives by offering an alternative, collective history centered on women’s experiences. In Les Guérillères, Wittig disrupts the linearity of history. The women reclaim their own stories and reforge a collective memory that empowers them, breaking away from the patriarchal versions of history that have traditionally dominated. Wittig’s use of myth, repetition, and non-linear structure reflects the fluid, evolving nature of collective memory. Here, memory is a tool of resistance and liberation, and by forming a collective identity based on shared stories, the women in the novel redefine their place in history. Wittig uses collective memory as a form of political and cultural reclamation.
The text also engages in a reimagining of language itself, which is key to how collective memory is both formed and expressed. Wittig’s work proposes that the way we remember is fundamentally tied to the words we use to describe the past, and that reshaping language allows for the creation of new kinds of collective memory—ones that are not bound by patriarchal or colonial power structures.
creative writing exercises
warm-up exercise: create your mnemosyne board
In this exercise, you will create a visual collage inspired by Aby Warburg's Mnemosyne Atlas, which highlights the interplay between images, memory, and cultural narratives. Follow these steps:
1. Select your photos: From the 10 found family photos provided, choose 3-5 that resonate with you. These photos may depict people, places, or moments that evoke strong feelings or memories.
2. Create your board: Using a digital platform (like Canva, Pinterest, or a simple document) or a physical space (such as a poster board), arrange your selected photos into a collage. As you place each photo, think about the connections between them. Consider:
What stories do these images tell?
How do they relate to each other visually or thematically?
What emotions do they evoke?
3. Reflect and write: Once your collage is complete, spend 10-15 minutes writing a short reflection that includes:
The narrative thread connecting your chosen photos.
Any feelings or memories that arise as you look at the collage.
How this exercise relates to the concept of collective memory—what communal stories do these images hint at?
writing prompt: community narratives inspired by Les Guérillères
In this exercise, you will delve into community narratives using Monique Wittig's Les Guérillères as a source of inspiration. Wittig's work is known for its experimental style and its focus on collective identity and resistance. Follow these steps to craft your narrative:
1. Read and reflect: Begin by reading an excerpt from Les Guérillères. Pay attention to Wittig’s use of language, her fragmented style, and how she constructs a narrative that speaks to collective identity and experiences. Consider how her approach challenges traditional storytelling and invites readers to consider the power of community.
2. Choose a community: Think about a community that you are part of or feel connected to. This could be based on culture, shared interests, geography, or social movements. Reflect on the collective experiences and memories that define this community.
3. Imagining and creating community stories: Imagine and create narratives that arise from the lived experiences of your chosen community. Consider:
What are the shared memories or histories that bind this community?
How do these stories reflect struggles, celebrations, or transformations?
What unique language or imagery can you use to express these collective narratives?
4. Writing style: Experiment with the fragmented, poetic, and rhythmic style seen in Wittig’s writing. Use repetition, vivid imagery, and non-linear storytelling to convey the depth of communal experiences.
5. Craft your narrative: Write a short piece that embodies the spirit of your chosen community. Focus on weaving together personal and collective memories, drawing on the communal language and imagery that resonate with the essence of that group.
stay grounded and motivated!
"As we close this chapter on collective memory, I want to reflect on what community means to me—not just as a concept, but as a lived experience that shapes our identities and creative practices. When I hear the word "community," I first imagine a tapestry of connections woven together through shared experiences, dreams, and even struggles. It’s a space where voices are heard, and diversity is embraced. In today’s world, community has become a fashionable term, a buzzword circulating in both art circles and activist movements. But with this trendiness comes a sobering reality: the risks of creating spaces that lack real structure and safety.
For me, a community must be a safe space, framed with clear boundaries and defined roles. We must communicate our responsibilities to each other to foster an environment where everyone feels valued and secure. I have witnessed the dangers that can arise when communities lack these essential foundations, including the regression into childlike dynamics, where individuals seek to reclaim lost comforts instead of assuming responsibility for their actions and identities. I have seen the peril of losing the "I" within the "We," leading to a dilution of individuality and personal expression.
We often gather in community because we are disillusioned with the isolating effects of capitalist individualism. Yet, I invite you to consider this: instead of merely seeking refuge from those dominant narratives, why not reinvent a new iconography of individualism? One that is responsible, generous, and empathetic?
What does community mean to you?"
—Anna Ádám Founder of the School of Disobedience
Photo: Fortepan / Horváth Péter & Szent-tamási Mihály