Dissolving dichotomies: Norbert Elias’s legacy for thinking “memory” sociologically

Abstract

This paper discusses how Elisian ideas on memory could have changed the history of Memory Studies ideas. The history of the phenomenon of memory inside the sociological field reflects the foundational dichotomies of the discipline: macro × micro dimensions and biological × social realms. Many of the hurdles and discussions of Memory Studies still lie upon these dichotomies. Although Elias has never investigated this topic properly, he has a rich discussion on relationality, interdisciplinarity, and processuality. These three aspects would dissolve many of the actual hurdles faced by Memory Studies.