Histoire, Mémoire et Oubli. Pour un autre régime d'historicité

In: Revue d'histoire moderne et contemporaine, Band 47, Heft 4, S. 783-804

Abstract

This paper, rooted in my studies of the historiography of the French Revolution and of the War of Vendée, discuss the relationships between History, Memory, and Oblivion as social uses of the Past. History and Memory could be seen as « Siamese twins » due to their opposite prospects and méthodes, the first devoted to the universal and the criticism, the second linked to communautaries relationships and affective feelings. Both are however unseparable and dependant as it could be seen in the creation of historiographies, of historical schools and cultural identities, and due to the necessity to elaborate narration on the Past. History and Memory must be assigned to their right places, in their necessary cooperation to deal with the Past. Oblivion could be seen as the horizon line of these proceedings, reassuring the obligation to incorporate the Past in every body and in every social group.