Trauma to cultural memory: conceptual analysis and methodological bases of research

This paper analyzes the category "trauma" in the contemporary "memory studies". The authors pay attention to the ambiguity and excessive metaphoricity that make the scientific research conceptualization difficult and propose their own classification and some methodological techniques that can be used in further studies. The authors analyzed the works of the predecessors and divided them into two areas: psychological and sociological. The works of the representatives of the first group (C. Caruth, D. LaCapra) are based on psychoanalytic interpretation. From their point of view, the source of the trauma is previously experienced impressions that continue to influence the assessment of the surrounding reality and the choice of the behavior strategy. The subject of the trauma in this case is a participant or a witness, and representation and rationalization of their experience is the main strategy of detraumatiza-tion. Supporters of the sociological interpretations (Р. Sztompka, J.O. Alexander, R. Eyerman) consider the social environment to be the most significant factor in the emergence of traumatic memories. So, they pay attention to the mechanisms of communication that allow the transmission of knowledge about trauma and psychological sensations. To avoid terminological confusion, the authors propose to use the term "collective trauma" when talking about the experience of the traumatic situation by witnesses (psychological direction), and "cultural trauma" when it comes to the narrative that puts the event into the set of images relevant for the collective identity of a particular community (social direction). The trauma in this case is not a single event but a sequence of actions unfolding for many years, a specific form of social practice. Therefore, the authors propose not to speak about the trauma, but about traumatiza-tion as a process. There are several areas of institutionalization of cultural trauma. In this work, the authors analyzed the mass media, in particular, the abilities of the media to act as a channel of representation and a consequence of medialization. In case of cultural trauma there are main social needs that determine the design of traumatic discourse. It is important that the media in this context act as the point of intersection of various economic and political strategies. This increases the relevance of the study of cultural trauma in the discourse of the consumer society.

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