Today, we seem to suffer from a hypertrophy of memory, not history.” (Huyssen 2003: 3)

In this class, we will look at the cultural and political aspects of history: What is the relationship between history and memory and how has it changed over the last century? What role has collective memory come to play in a society? What shifts are currently taking place in the realm of collective memory? 

Using the of the contested memory of the so-called “military comfort women” as a case study, this seminar explores the significance of memory in historical narratives, political discourses, and cultural representations. We will examine how memory is shaped, negotiated, and instrumentalized by different actors – governments, civil society, and cultural producers. The course will introduce key theoretical approaches to memory studies, including collective memory, historical revisionism, and mnemonic activism. A central theme will be “comfort women” memorials and their impact on memory politics in Japan, South Korea, the US and Germany. We will analyze the transnational/translocal character of the memorials and place them within local cultural contexts.

Through discussing current trends in memory culture such as the postcolonial shift, the historian’s dispute 2.0 and the post-migrant shift, students will gain a comprehensive insight into current debates and learn to reflect on them critically. The course encourages interdisciplinary perspectives and fosters a critical understanding of historical responsibility and its contemporary ramifications.

Semester: ST 2025