Anton Drobovych for the USPS Lectorium

How do we perceive the past? We tend to expect that historical knowledge is grounded in facts, documentary evidence and multiple interpretations. But what happens to our memory when politics instrumentalises it? To what extent is our understanding of ourselves protected from distortion? And to what extent is it truly our own?

In this video course, we explore whether we, as communities, construct our own past in the same way as we construct our future.

1. Lecture 1. On history, collective memory and cultural policies. This lecture compares history and memory and examines how each shapes our perception of the past. It seeks to define what constitutes a ‘healthy’ collective memory and what consequences arise from its opposite. Ultimately, it demonstrates how politics engages with the past and reshapes memory.
2. Lecture 2. The nation as a construct and the role of narrative in its existence. This lecture explores nations — what unites them and what they value. Through stories, tales and narratives, it traces the emergence of early ideas and aspirations of nationhood.
3. Lecture 3. Memorialisation and war — how to remember honestly? This lecture addresses the remembrance of the most difficult periods in history. Why is it so important to interpret the horrors of war? Through concrete examples, it illustrates how memorialisation can reshape historical events and what the cost of this may be.
4. Lecture 4. Why memory can serve both peace and war. Conflicting interpretations of history give rise to conflicting narratives. Particularly illustrative are the notions of ‘Never Again’ and ‘We can repeat it’ — two fundamentally different traditions that reflect contrasting attitudes towards the past. The former acts as a safeguard against war, while the latter serves as a call to hatred. This lecture revisits cases where memory became a moral basis and justification for aggression.
5. Lecture 5. The hero’s journey: from historical epics to contemporary choices. The fifth lecture focuses on the formation of narratives — how stories, tales and legends heard countless times become templates in electoral competition. As a result, electoral victories may be secured by the least ethical candidates.

This course offers an opportunity to look at memory beyond a purely personal experience. We therefore believe that the material we have prepared will be relevant and engaging for a broad audience.

Enjoy watching!