The international team of contributors examine case studies from colonialism, war, politics and slavery from across the globe, as well as drawing examples from literature, philosophy and sites of memory to draw three main conclusions. Firstly, that the relationship between remembering and forgetting is relational rather than 'hermetic', and the space between the two is often occupied by silence. Secondly, silence is a force in itself, capable of stimulating more or less remembrance. Finally, that silence is a necessary and key element in the interaction between the human mind and the 'outer world', and enables people to challenge their understanding of art, music, literature, history and memory.
With an introduction by the editors discussing Memory Studies, and concluding remarks by Astrid Erll, this collection demonstrates that acceptance and consideration of silence as having both a performative and aesthetic dimension is an essential component of history and memory studies.
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John Bodnar, Indiana University, USA
"Beyond Memory: Silence and the Aesthetics of Remembrance marks a key moment in the burgeoning field of memory studies. The editors and authors steer a clear path through a complicated conceptual terrain to provide convincing responses to the central issue of "silence". Too often framed as inherently negative or compartmentalized within memory, the various case studies within this book rather demonstrate how "silences" are socially constructed and productive in profound cultural, political and intellectual ways. For both students and seasoned scholars, this collection will do exactly what excellent academic books should do, it will stimulate further critical thinking and research."
Sean Field, University of Cape Town, South Africa