Journal of Siberian Federal University. Humanities & Social Sciences / An Epistemological Research Model of the City Memory Sites’ Dynamics

Full text (.pdf)
Issue
Journal of Siberian Federal University. Humanities & Social Sciences. 2026 19 (2)
Authors
Fedotova, Natalya G.
Contact information
Fedotova, Natalya G. : Yaroslav-the- Wise Novgorod State University (Veliky Novgorod, Russian Federation);
Keywords
city; J. Olick; culture memory; memory sites; city past images
Abstract

The article is devoted to solving the problem of absence of stable scientific approaches in city memory sites researches, caused by the ambiguous interpretation of the “site of memory” concept in Memory Studies. The author proposes to shift the research optics to procedural nature of the significance of the city memory sites for contemporaries in the context of one or other changes. The goal of the article is to identify the epistemological frameworks for conducting the researches of city memory sites in the context of city memorial space dynamics. An epistemological model of studying the dynamics of the city memory sites is based on the process-relational methodology by J. Olick, who identified 4 concepts of “memory figurations”. As a result, the author identified the key aspects of the city memory sites dynamics researches: a) the principles of correlation between the repertoire of the city memory sites and the contexts, political forces, reflecting the dominate views on past of the city; b) understanding the city memory sites as a mediator, that leaves its mark on memorial traditions as well; c) the importance of the communicative processes as a commemorative practices, providing the actualization of city past images in the city memory sites; d) the dependence of the city memory sites interpretations on the official image (profile) of the city, its appearance and inner positioning. As illustrations the paper presents the results of research by Russian scientists, studying the Russian cities’ memory sites

Pages
462–471
EDN
XZYPIG
Paper at repository of SibFU
https://elib.sfu-kras.ru/handle/2311/158166

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