Collective Memory and What We Forget

Formation, Forgetting, and Recall of Social Memory

Karl Mannheim's article "Generations" provides insights into answering these questions. Mannheim suggests that social memory changes in proportion to generational shifts, with shared collective experiences forming the basis of each generation. According to him, each generation emerges from shared experiences that result in a collective memory. During generational change, some events are consciously or unconsciously forgotten. He argues that social memory is fundamentally linked to how a society remembers its own past and how this remembering process affects the society's identity and cultural values. As the impact of memory and events on social identity changes, generations are formed. In short, the formation of generations and social memory mutually influence each other. While events shape social identity through social memory, generations determine social memory by influencing how events are remembered. Additionally, the process of forgetting is also a part of social memory.

David Rieff explains forgetting in his book "Seven Types of Forgetting":

• Recounting: Over time, retelling events can lead to reinterpretations that cause some details to be lost and change how events are remembered.

• Erasure and Suppression: Shameful or traumatic events may be consciously forgotten by societies.

• Social Changes: Changes in factors like societal structure, cultural values, and political climate can lead societies to neglect or forget certain events.

• Social Stratification: Different groups or classes within a society may have different memory experiences, causing some groups to remember or forget events in different ways.

• Social Functions and Needs: The daily functioning and needs of a society determine which events are emphasized and which are relegated to the background.

• Collective Power Dynamics: Power dynamics within a society influence which events are remembered or forgotten.

• Written Records and Communication Technologies: How societies preserve and make accessible written sources plays a crucial role in shaping social memory.

These factors play significant roles in the formation of social memory. Social memory is continually reconstructed through the influence of various factors, and processes of forgetting naturally arise as a consequence of this reconstruction.

Current Situation: Turkey's Social Memory on What We Tend to Forget / Remember

Gezi Park Protests

The Gezi Park protests are considered a significant social event in Turkey's recent history and have left profound sociological marks on social memory. These events are remembered as a large-scale resistance movement where a broad segment of society took to the streets against government policies and for democratic rights. Particularly noted for the active participation of youth and the influence of social media, the Gezi Park protests are recalled in social memory as an inclusive social movement where various societal groups came together to defend a common cause. The way media covered the events and shaped public opinion also deeply influenced how these events were perceived in social memory.

Over time, the Gezi Park protests have been remembered in varying ways, with certain aspects beginning to fade from memory. Among the forgotten aspects are the peaceful protest culture triggered by the events and the spirit of social solidarity. The societal awareness of democratic participation and the media's influence at the time have also started to be forgotten. Despite leaving deep political impacts during the protests, the process of reconstructing social memory has altered how Gezi Park is remembered.

During the Gezi Park protests, some protestors sought refuge in specific locations to avoid police intervention and subsequently protested other businesses for not sheltering them. This process created significant public pressure on brands and restaurants, leading to negative consequences for some. However, over time, the impact of these events has diminished, and businesses that were lynched during the Gezi events have returned to their former operations or have begun to occupy less space in social memory. This illustrates how social memory changes over time and how temporary societal reactions can be forgotten. The acceptance of protested businesses over time reflects the dynamics of social forgetting and reconstruction.

Hatay Earthquake

The Hatay Earthquake has left deep traces in Turkey's social memory. This earthquake was felt extensively not only due to physical damage and loss of life but also due to its psychological and societal effects. The concept of secondary trauma was used to explain the psychological and social effects following the Hatay Earthquake. This term explains the deep psychological and societal scars left by events like natural disasters, beyond the direct effects of primary traumatic events.

The observed process in the context of the Hatay Earthquake began with widespread solidarity efforts to rebuild Hatay and support earthquake victims. Initially, there were extensive relief campaigns, volunteers and professionals reached the earthquake zone, and rescue and relief efforts were intensely carried out. However, a few months later, a decline in the intense interest and aid for Hatay Earthquake victims was observed. The initial enthusiastic responses gave way to normalization and conscious processes of forgetting. People unaffected by the earthquake or without personal experiences began to diminish the urgency of aid needed in Hatay. This process demonstrated how the memory of the earthquake and the plight of the victims faded in social memory.

This process indicates a tendency in our social memory to forget as we cope with events over time, often driven by a desire to psychologically return to normalcy. However, this effort to suppress trauma and its effects may risk overlooking long-term needs for solidarity and support. Understanding the potential consequences of what we forget in our social memory is crucial for the future.

In particular cases, maintaining the place of an event in social memory and remembering it is of critical importance. For example, the rebuilding of a city like Hatay or any other earthquake- stricken city needs continuous and sustainable solidarity and support, not just initial aid efforts. However, the societal tendency to suppress secondary trauma can turn into a process of normalization and conscious forgetting over time. In this regard, the importance of remembering and strengthening social memory becomes evident, as collective experiences shape societal structures.

Murders of Women

To understand how murders of women are forgotten in the context of Turkey's social memory, we can delve into psychological and social factors in detail. These events often attract intense media attention and are extensively reported initially. However, due to the constant change in media agendas, reports and coverage related to murders of women may decrease or become irregular over time. This situation can affect the longevity and constant presence of these events in social memory.

Moreover, it is important to consider the psychological aspect of forgetting murders of women in social memory. Society's reactions to such events can change over time and decrease. The phenomenon of "desensitization" in human psychology can lead individuals to become indifferent to tragic events they frequently encounter, resulting in a diminishing impact of these events over time. Additionally, the process of "normalization" can also be influential, where constant media presence of an event may lead society to normalize the issue over time.

Political and social events also play a significant role in the forgetting of murders of women. For example, social movements, changes in political agendas, or economic crises can affect the intensity of societal responses to murders of women. This situation can lead to murders of women being sidelined in social memory.

In conclusion, the impact of media interest, desensitization and normalization processes in human psychology, and political and social factors significantly affect the forgetting of murders of women in social memory. The combination of these factors can make it challenging for murders of women to remain constantly in society and in memory for the overall

The Boğaziçi Resistance

The Boğaziçi resistance, which began in 2021 at Istanbul's Boğaziçi University in opposition to the appointment of a rector and grew with widespread participation, is a significant social movement. Initially garnering substantial support, the resistance emerged as a platform highlighting student activism and freedom of expression. The movement rapidly spread through effective use of social media and drew attention through events such as police interventions and arrests. However, over time, the public interest and media coverage of the resistance appear to have diminished.

From a psychological perspective, understanding how social movements are perceived over time by the public is important. The initial strong support and solidarity can gradually give way to societal indifference. One contributing factor in this process is media agenda shifts and the emergence of new events. Human psychology tends to focus on constantly changing and distracting factors. Thus, the impact of an event on public opinion may diminish over time and fade from societal memory. Forgetting in societal memory can lead to the outcomes of actions being ineffectual.

Saturday Mothers

The Saturday Mothers is a peaceful protest movement initiated in 1995 by mothers in Istanbul seeking the fate of their disappeared loved ones. Initially formed by mothers searching for their missing relatives, the movement evolved to advocate for accountability for disappearances and to combat human rights violations. Every week, the Saturday Mothers gather at Galatasaray Square in Istanbul to demand answers about their missing loved ones and call for justice. These actions are not only aimed at uncovering the fate of the missing but also at raising awareness about human rights abuses to the public.

The Saturday Mothers play a crucial role in shaping societal memory. The movement is significant for mothers searching for their missing loved ones, acting with a sense of societal responsibility and emphasizing that their issue is not merely a personal matter but a broader human rights violation. The regular and peaceful protest actions of the Saturday Mothers have raised awareness about disappearances and human rights violations in Turkish society. The continuity and determination of the movement have ensured societal sensitivity, creating public pressure for the Saturday Mothers' demands to be met. Thus, the Saturday Mothers movement has been a significant actor in the processes of remembering specific events and embedding these events into societal consciousness.

The Saturday Mothers movement also struggles against processes of forgetting. Over time, societal priorities can change, and some issues may replace others. However, the Saturday Mothers consistently strive through their actions to ensure that the disappeared are not forgotten. In this context, the Saturday Mothers movement is crucial in increasing societal awareness and achieving societal transformation regarding human rights. The movement has not only heightened the sensitivity of families of the disappeared but also raised awareness among a wide segment of society about justice and human rights. Consequently, the Saturday Mothers movement sets an example in creating public pressure through continuity and determination in the context of forming societal memory and processes of forgetting.

Why Awareness of the Formation of Social Memory is Important?

Social memory refers to a society's connection to its past, how it remembers, narrates, and interprets that past. Being aware of this is crucial as it can influence the course of future events and mitigate the disadvantages of forgetting. Firstly, social memory allows societies to learn from the past. It enables societies to become aware of political mistakes, social injustices, or mismanagement following natural disasters, thereby preventing similar mistakes in the future. For example, social memory allows societies to react to issues such as human rights violations or ethnic discrimination and contribute to their resolution. Building awareness about injustices and human rights violations is also a crucial function of social memory. It ensures that past injustices and violations are remembered and creates societal awareness on these issues. Consequently, societies can react to human rights violations and contribute to their resolution. Moreover, social memory strengthens social unity and solidarity. Understanding and remembering a common past enables societies to build a collective identity based on shared values and act together. Preserving and developing cultural identity is also a significant part of social memory. Lastly, being aware of social memory prevents the disadvantages of forgetting. Forgetting significant events from the past can lead to societies repeating the same mistakes or losing valuable lessons. Therefore, preserving traces of the past through social memory ensures that lessons are learned from history and passed on to future generations, enabling societies to shape their future positively. Awareness of social memory is critical as it strengthens a society's connection to its past and influences its future direction. Understanding and remembering the past correctly helps societies cope with future challenges and contributes to building a better world. Therefore, being aware of the formation of social memory plays a crucial role in preserving the transmission between the past and future, ensuring the continuity and development of society.

References:

Ebbinghaus, H. (1885). Memory: A contribution to experimental psychology. *Annals of Neurosciences, 22*(4), 11-13. https://doi.org/10.1097/NRL.0b013e3181d87e6a

Mannheim, K. (1928). The problem of generations. In P. Kecskemeti (Ed.), *Essays on the sociology of knowledge* (pp. 276-322). Routledge & Kegan Paul.