Figuring Memory: Thomas Van de Putte on Cultural Memory

On Tuesday, December 14, 2021, the George and Irina Schaeffer Center for the Study of Genocide, Human Rights and Conflict Prevention held the third event in its series of monthly seminars for the 2021–22 academic year, titled “Figuring Memory: Social Practices and Collective Transformation.” The online event was organized in collaboration with Sarah Gensburger and Sandrine Lefranc at France’s national scientific research center, CNRS. Guest lecturer Thomas Van de Putte, a former investigative journalist and current postdoctoral fellow from the University of Trento, spoke on the subject of “Cultural Memory: From Event to Action.” 

Van de Putte’s presentation explored research opportunities in memory and morality, particularly with respect to new social theories of cultural memory. He emphasized the cultural and social aspects of memory when discussing collective memory, defining in the process cultural memory as “relatively stable representations of the past that reside in disembodied, objectified forms of culture.” He argued that too many scholars have been looking at culture as it has already been situated rather than furthering the field by retheorizing what cultural memory might mean.  

His research looks at ways in which differing interactional contexts change how people participate in cultural memory. He drew a distinction between “thick” communities, which have strong social bonds between those involved, and “light” social groups, which are tight-knit but ephemeral. He stressed that the assumption in memory education is that teaching people values will change their actions. “The main finding, however, is that morality doesn’t inform action, but instead is often used to explain action after it has happened,” he said. “Memory education can be potentially adapted to this, but we must not forget interactional strategies.” 

Van de Putte is currently working on a book from his ongoing ethnographic research. The purpose of the work will be to argue that literature holds the same interactional structure as cultural memory. “Creating interactional disruptions is a methodical way to uncover the normal,” he explained. “Disruption uncovers the ordinary.” Following his lecture, Van de Putte took questions from the audience, including on his recent academic publications and his influences from the field of sociology. You can watch the full lecture and Q&A in the video below. 

Significant contributions to this news piece were made by AUP student and Schaeffer Fellow, Michael Justice.