Theories Of Social Remembering (Theorizing Society)

experienced an event during adolescence orearly adulthood.

identify any two 'especially important national or world events or changes'. Their research results show that memories are structured by generational divisions and that attributions of importance to national and world events of the past half century tend to be a function of an individual having

participation in the same historical and social circumstances which 'endow the individuals sharing in them with ... common mentality and sensitivity'

theories of social nn•nuory should he a central part of the sociology of knowledge

sociologically meaningful sense an individual must be born within the same historical and cultural context and be exposed to experiences that occur during their formative adult years,

The majority of these theories seem to stress the uniqueness of each generation and their mutual distance, yet in reality generations have much in conlnlon and tend to resemble each other

'living link' between generations which ensures that the past is handed on via parents and grandparents and goes beyond the limits of individual experience.

conventions' and therefore as 'a fundamental ingredient of each of us'

Hollowing Ortega's idea of generation as 'the visual organ with which historical reality can be seen in its real and vibrant authenticity', Marias defines generation as 'systems of prevailing