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The Resource History and popular memory : the power of story in moments of crisis, Paul A. Cohen

History and popular memory : the power of story in moments of crisis, Paul A. Cohen

Creator
Author
Summary
"When people experience a traumatic event, such as war or the threat of annihilation, they often turn to history for stories that promise a positive outcome to their suffering. During World War II, the French took comfort in the story of Joan of Arc and her heroic efforts to rid France of foreign occupation. To bring the Joan narrative more into line with current circumstances, popular retellings modified the original story so that what people believed took place in the past was often quite different from what actually occurred. Paul A. Cohen believes this interplay between story and history is a worldwide phenomenon found in countries of radically different cultural, religious, and social character. He focuses on Serbia, Israel, the Soviet Union, China, Great Britain, and France, all of which experienced severe crises in the twentieth century and, in response, appropriated age-old historical narratives that resonated with what was happening in the present to serve a unifying, restorative purpose. A central theme in the book is the distinction between popular memory and history. Although vitally important to historians, this distinction is routinely blurred in people's minds, and the historian's truth often cannot compete with the power of a compelling story from the past, even when it has been seriously distorted by myth or political manipulation. Cohen concludes by suggesting that the patterns of interaction he probes, given their near universality, may well be rooted in certain human propensities that transcend cultural difference"--Provided by publisher
Language
eng
Work
Publication
Extent
1 online resource (279 pages)
Contents
  • The battle of Kosovo of 1389 and Serbian nationalism
  • The fall of Masada and modern Jewish memory
  • Chiang Kai-Shek, Chinese nationalist policy, and the story of King Goujian
  • The enigma of the appeal of Joan of Arc in wartime France
  • Artful propaganda in World War II : Eisenstein's Alexander Nevsky and Olivier's Henry V
Isbn
9780231537292
Instance
Label
History and popular memory : the power of story in moments of crisis
Title
History and popular memory
Title remainder
the power of story in moments of crisis
Statement of responsibility
Paul A. Cohen
Creator
Author
Subject
Genre
Language
eng
Summary
"When people experience a traumatic event, such as war or the threat of annihilation, they often turn to history for stories that promise a positive outcome to their suffering. During World War II, the French took comfort in the story of Joan of Arc and her heroic efforts to rid France of foreign occupation. To bring the Joan narrative more into line with current circumstances, popular retellings modified the original story so that what people believed took place in the past was often quite different from what actually occurred. Paul A. Cohen believes this interplay between story and history is a worldwide phenomenon found in countries of radically different cultural, religious, and social character. He focuses on Serbia, Israel, the Soviet Union, China, Great Britain, and France, all of which experienced severe crises in the twentieth century and, in response, appropriated age-old historical narratives that resonated with what was happening in the present to serve a unifying, restorative purpose. A central theme in the book is the distinction between popular memory and history. Although vitally important to historians, this distinction is routinely blurred in people's minds, and the historian's truth often cannot compete with the power of a compelling story from the past, even when it has been seriously distorted by myth or political manipulation. Cohen concludes by suggesting that the patterns of interaction he probes, given their near universality, may well be rooted in certain human propensities that transcend cultural difference"--Provided by publisher
Member of
Cataloging source
EBLCP
http://library.link/vocab/creatorName
Cohen, Paul A
Dewey number
907.2
Illustrations
  • illustrations
  • maps
Index
index present
Language note
In English
LC call number
D13
LC item number
.C589 2014
Literary form
non fiction
Nature of contents
  • dictionaries
  • bibliography
http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
  • Goujian
  • Joan
  • Historiography
  • Collective memory
  • Crises
  • Kosovo, Battle of, Kosovo, 1389
  • Masada Site (Israel)
  • Goujian
  • Joan
  • HISTORY
  • Collective memory
  • Crises
  • Historiography
  • Influence (Literary, artistic, etc.)
  • Israel
  • Kosovo (Republic)
Label
History and popular memory : the power of story in moments of crisis, Paul A. Cohen
Instantiates
Publication
Copyright
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references and index
Carrier category
online resource
Carrier category code
  • cr
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Contents
The battle of Kosovo of 1389 and Serbian nationalism -- The fall of Masada and modern Jewish memory -- Chiang Kai-Shek, Chinese nationalist policy, and the story of King Goujian -- The enigma of the appeal of Joan of Arc in wartime France -- Artful propaganda in World War II : Eisenstein's Alexander Nevsky and Olivier's Henry V
Control code
875095737
Extent
1 online resource (279 pages)
Form of item
online
Isbn
9780231537292
Media category
computer
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • c
Other control number
10.7312/cohe16636
Other physical details
illustrations, maps
http://library.link/vocab/ext/overdrive/overdriveId
  • 22573/ctt65szn4
  • c0bf49fb-1b3b-40fd-afc1-be8269081014
Specific material designation
remote
System control number
(OCoLC)875095737
Label
History and popular memory : the power of story in moments of crisis, Paul A. Cohen
Publication
Copyright
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references and index
Carrier category
online resource
Carrier category code
  • cr
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Contents
The battle of Kosovo of 1389 and Serbian nationalism -- The fall of Masada and modern Jewish memory -- Chiang Kai-Shek, Chinese nationalist policy, and the story of King Goujian -- The enigma of the appeal of Joan of Arc in wartime France -- Artful propaganda in World War II : Eisenstein's Alexander Nevsky and Olivier's Henry V
Control code
875095737
Extent
1 online resource (279 pages)
Form of item
online
Isbn
9780231537292
Media category
computer
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • c
Other control number
10.7312/cohe16636
Other physical details
illustrations, maps
http://library.link/vocab/ext/overdrive/overdriveId
  • 22573/ctt65szn4
  • c0bf49fb-1b3b-40fd-afc1-be8269081014
Specific material designation
remote
System control number
(OCoLC)875095737

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Genre

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      38.710138 -90.311107

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