Narratives and collective memory

Current research continues to emphasize the role of narratives as a key cultural mediator for collective memory. Recent studies examine how narratives shape collective identities—not in isolation, but by integrating them with other mediators such as symbols, monuments, or rituals. Key concepts for understanding how narratives function, such as schematic narrative templates, have been refined to account for increasingly heterogeneous and dynamic identities in societies today. The study of narratives must also consider the rise of counter- and alternative narratives that coexist with—and sometimes challenge—master narratives. Narrative approaches are making significant contributions at the intersection of memory and history, contributions that are especially relevant to fostering critical and historical thinking in our societies. Critical thinking about narratives is essential for citizens to negotiate and interrogate them, as well as generate their own. To better understand the role of narratives in collective memory it is crucial to investigate the points of tension and interrelation between their production and consumption, between memory and history, and between dominant and alternative narratives. All of this occurs in a context that presents new challenges for narrative research—such as the rise of extremist political discourse and use of national narratives, and the emergence of new narrative-production mechanisms like artificial intelligence.