Memory

How does personal memory relate to personal identity? In what ways do the memories of one generation affect future generations? Why do I always forget to pack my lunch before going to work? Is the restaging of performance art an act of remembrance? Join Washington University in St. Louis faculty as they shed light on the infinite ways that memory affects our everyday lives.

Image flickr: Michael Cavén, kelly hofer

December 17, 2012

"Reperformance" and Memory

Memory: Episode #6

Is the restaging of a ballet an act of remembrance? Is a performance, by definition, something with a beginning and an end that can't be recreated? Why are works of performance art worth preserving? Join Pannill Camp and Christine Knoblauch-O'Neal, both professors within the Performing Arts department at Washington University in St. Louis, as they discuss the concept of "reperformance."

November 26, 2012

Exploring Alzheimer's

Memory: Episode #5

According to the National Institute on Aging, experts estimate that more than five million people in the United States have Alzheimer's disease, a condition that damages memory and cognitive function. Dr. David Holtzman explains what is happening in the brain of someone with Alzheimer's, describes his own laboratory's research into the disease, and shares why he believes that it should be treatable.

November 12, 2012

False Memory

Memory: Episode #4

How trustworthy is human memory? Professor Henry Roediger describes his research into how and why errors in memory occur. The implications of this research are far-reaching, especially in the justice system. According to the Innocence Project, nearly 75% of overturned convictions involved incorrect witness identification.

October 22, 2012

"Postmemory" and the Second Generation

Memory: Episode #3

How do the memories of one group affect future generations? Dr. Erin McGlothlin explores Second Generation Holocaust Literature and discusses the concept of "postmemory."

October 10, 2012

Prospective Memory and the Forgotten Lunch

Memory: Episode #2

In order to carry out daily tasks like taking medication, attending meetings, and bringing lunch to work, we first need to remember to do those things. Professor Mark McDaniel describes his research on prospective memory.

October 8, 2012

Amnesia and Identity

Memory: Episode #1

Philosophy professor Carl Craver tackles some fundamental questions about the importance of memory. Is it our personal memories that make us distinctly human? And where does that leave people with amnesia?

Listen In!

Memory is all over the airwaves recently, with features on "Memory and Forgetting" on both WNYC's Radiolab and Wisconsin Public Radio's To the Best of Our Knowledge.

November 14, 2012

Memory Formation

When Our Brain Gets it Wrong

New research from Uppsala University in Sweden suggests that it may be possible to alter or even erase emotional memories before they become permanently embedded into our brains.

October 26, 2012

Remembering the Holocaust: A Community Approach

by Kate Marcal

A new memorial dedicated to the Romani people killed in the Holocaust officially opened in Berlin last week. For the descendants of these victims, the memorial marked a long-awaited acknowledgement of their past and continued suffering and discrimination.

October 24, 2012

Listen in!

Scholars discuss the novel Austerlitz

The idea of "postmemory" cuts across academic disciplines and affects many cultures. To further explore the concepts that Erin McGlothlin introduced, join this hour-long meeting of Washington University's Transnational Approaches to Postmemory Reading Group. In this recording, an interdisciplinary team of scholars discusses the novel Austerlitz, by W.G. Sebald.

Search form

Memory