How Modernity Forgets

Why Are We Sometimes Unable To Remember Events, Places And Objects? This Concise Overview Explores The Concept Of 'forgetting', And How Modern Society Affects Our Ability To Remember Things. It Takes Ideas From Francis Yates Classic Work, 'the Art Of Memory', Which Viewed Memory As Being Dependent On Stability, And Argues That Today's World Is Full Of Change, Making 'forgetting' Characteristic Of Contemporary Society. We Live Our Lives At Great Speed; Cities Have Become So Enormous That They Are Unmemorable; Consumerism Has Become Disconnected From The Labour Process; Urban Architecture Has A Short Life-span; And Social Relationships Are Less Clearly Defined - All Of Which Has Eroded The Foundations On Which We Build And Share Our Memories. Providing A Profound Insight Into The Effects Of Modern Society, This Book Is A Must-read For Anthropologists, Sociologists, Psychologists And Philosophers, As Well As Anyone Interested In Social Theory And The Contemporary Western World.--book Cover. Introduction -- Two Types Of Place Memory -- Temporalities Of Forgetting -- Topographies Of Forgetting -- Conclusion. Paul Connerton. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Why are we sometimes unable to remember events, places and objects? This concise overview explores the concept of 'forgetting', and how modern society affects our ability to remember things. It takes ideas from Francis Yates classic work, The Art of Memory, which viewed memory as being dependent on stability, and argues that today's world is full of change, making 'forgetting' characteristic of contemporary society. We live our lives at great speed; cities have become so enormous that they are unmemorable; consumerism has become disconnected from the labour process; urban architecture has a short life-span; and social relationships are less clearly defined - all of which has eroded the foundations on which we build and share our memories. Providing a profound insight into the effects of modern society, this book is a must-read for anthropologists, sociologists, psychologists and philosophers, as well as anyone interested in social theory and the contemporary western world (source : site de l'éditeur) Half-title......Page 3 Title......Page 5 Copyright......Page 6 Dedication......Page 7 Contents......Page 9 Acknowledgements......Page 10 1 Introduction ......Page 11 Notes......Page 16 2 Two types of place memory......Page 17 i......Page 20 ii......Page 23 i......Page 28 ii......Page 32 i ......Page 37 ii ......Page 40 Notes......Page 45 1......Page 50 2......Page 63 3......Page 77 4......Page 88 5......Page 98 Notes......Page 104 1......Page 109 2......Page 118 3......Page 127 Notes......Page 135 5 Conclusion......Page 142 Notes......Page 157 Index......Page 158 Half-title 3 Title 5 Copyright 6 Dedication 7 Contents 9 Acknowledgements 10 1 Introduction 11 Notes 16 2 Two types of place memory 17 1 20 i 20 ii 23 2 28 i 28 ii 32 3 37 i 37 ii 40 Notes 45 3 Temporalities of forgetting 50 1 50 2 63 3 77 4 88 5 98 Notes 104 4 Topographies of forgetting 109 1 109 2 118 3 127 4 135 Notes 135 5 Conclusion 142 Notes 157 Index 158 9780521762151

Provides an insight into how modern society and contemporary living affects our ability to remember things.