Narratives and social memory: theoretical and methodological approaches

Abstract

Since the “narrative turn” in social and human sciences, there has been a huge development in the research about narrative structures, functions, processes, and contents. The interplay between narratives, identity, and memory has become a fertile domain of interdisciplinary studies as well as fruitful dialogues between researchers, practitioners, and citizens. Although interest in identity narratives and social memory has considerably grown over the past decades, they have generally been studied in very fragmented paths. The International Seminar “Narratives and Social Memory: theoretical and methodological approaches” was conceived to address this limitation. It took place in June 2012 at the University of Minho in Braga, Portugal. This volume comprises a selection of papers delivered at the seminar. By bringing together researchers working on these themes from a wide spectrum of disciplines, the seminar aimed at fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and at instigating sustainable networking. Scholars from disciplines such as Anthropology, Architecture, Communication Sciences, Computer Sciences, Cultural Studies, Education, Geography, History, Linguistics, Literature, Political Science, Psychology and Sociology, participated in a stimulating dialogue. Among the main topics discussed were the (re)construction or dissolution of ethnic, national and post-colonial identities, migration, colonialism, justice, prejudice, stereotyping, discrimination, environmental and gender issues.