THE DISCOURSE OF POSTMEMORY IN THE NATIONAL MEDIA LANDSCAPE

Abstract

Memory as a central element in theoretical and discursive explorations of the nation offers multiple avenues for rethinking established historical narratives. The question of how a collective past becomes embedded in contemporary identity gains particular relevance in current debates about what a nation should remember–and how. Within this context, the study of postmemory emerges as a critical framework for examining collective engagement with the past and its influence on the construction of national identity.

The aim of this research is to develop an analytically grounded perspective on the mnemonic discourse of postmemory as a meaningful factor in the evolving processes of national self-identification. The methodological approach draws on contemporary theories and memory studies frameworks, including the works of Pierre Nora, Maurice Halbwachs, and Jeffrey Olick, as well as key concepts from postmemory theory (Marianne Hirsch) and translocal memory studies (Astrid Erll, Ann Rigney). These perspectives consider collective memory and postmemory as integral to mnemonic communities that shape the contours of national identity.

The study employed a qualitative thematic analysis of representative media texts to identify the symbolic and semantic content of postmemory discourse. The findings demonstrate that postmemory, as a product of sociocultural communication, is expressed through diverse forms of memorial practices by its carriers. These practices reinterpret the collective past and contribute to the production of symbolic frameworks for national identity.

The conclusions presented in this article may serve as a methodological foundation for future research into the dynamics of postmemory within national identity discourse, as well as inform the development of memory policies aimed at civic reintegration. This research enhances our understanding of how postmemory functions within the mnemonic discourse and plays a pivotal role in shaping national identity, while also influencing the transformation of the public memorial landscape in the national context.