Social Theory: Collective Memory

1. Social Theory: Collective Memory Bin Xu Assistant Professor of Sociology and Asian Studies Florida International University

2. Durkheim Review • Major Works • The Division of Labor of Society (1893) • The Rules of Sociological Method (1895) • On Suicide (1897) • The Elementary Forms of Religious Life (1912)

3. The Elementary Forms of Religious Life (1912) • Key Arguments (Fields, Introduction to The Elementary Forms) • Definition of Religion • The God/Society Equation • Case selection

4. The Elementary Forms of Religious Life (1912) Key Arguments (Fields, Introduction to The Elementary Forms) • Conscience collective/collective consciousness • Sacred/profane dichotomy • Religious life in seemingly nonreligious life • Rituals

5. Interaction ritual chain (Randall Collins)

6. The Elementary Forms and Collective Memory • Mythical past at the core of group identity and solidarity • Mythical past refers “common beliefs, their common tradition, the memory of their great ancestors, their collective ideal,” etc. • Myth of origin; religion provides an all-embracing structure beliefs and practices pertaining to the past. • Rituals strengthen the myth

7. The Elementary Forms and Collective Memory • Piacular rites • Mourning • Other piacular rites

8. Issues in Durkheim’s Collective Memory Theory • A communal idea of memory with an emphasis on the “collective” • Memory as the core of identity • Ritual unifies the community • Mourning strengthens the community