Summary Of Social Memory By Eviatar Zerubavel

Certain things in this world are unavoidable, death, taxes, and socially influenced memories. Eviatar Zerubavel is a Sociology professor at Rutgers University. In Zerubavel’s essay “Social Memories” he argues that most memories we have formed are a product of ways we’ve been influenced socially. Zerubavel discusses all the factors that influence not only our present moment decision-making skills but also the way we formulate memories. Though socially influenced memories may seem corrupt they are essential building blocks of our society, without them we have no culture or societal advancements.
Zerubavel begins with a warning against a common misconception about memory: that memories are forms separate from society. The fact is that memory

Human kind writes history the way we want to remember it, but the way we choose to remember it might depend on the history book we choose to read. Where you come from might affect the amount of “Pre-history” (Zerubavel 221) you are taught. People from a certain culture might not be as concerned with the happenings of a different culture outside their timeline. This, however, is what makes us all different, gives us a place in society, and creates cohesive teams. Social memory exists because culture divides us, and culture can exist because social memory binds us. Social memory and culture are co-dependent concepts, but without different cultures with different social memories the most important aspects of life wouldn’t

These factors contribute to forward social movement and are only possible because of each person’s uniquely influenced life. Societal advances are born through conflict, necessity for change, and movement toward peace and understanding. Without unique individuals there would be no difference in the opinion threads of society, therefore, no need for change or advancements in technology or thought. Social memories are necessary because they create a chain reaction in society. Social memories create cultures that will influence an individual to have their own unique opinions. These opinions will cause conflicts between social groups and lead to a livelier world where we are able to disagree, but we learn skills that help us work together