objections to reminiscence
September 17, 2010 9:38 AM Subscribe
A character in a book that is ... worried/afraid of reminiscing, for fear that it may taint their memory (or sense of self), or lessen the experience, or something similar? (might be Sartre's Nausea, but I can't find an appropriate quote.) Thanks!
(previously: memory in books and media, that doesn't cover this, but nonetheless interesting)
(previously: memory in books and media, that doesn't cover this, but nonetheless interesting)
Response by poster: ah, sorry, I am looking for... either : ). If anyone knows of an example similar to the above, that'd be great. If it is Nausea that contains it (or another book), a specific reference would be wonderful too. (thanks all)
posted by paulesque at 11:19 AM on September 17, 2010
posted by paulesque at 11:19 AM on September 17, 2010
I don't think this is quite it, but here's a bit from Beckett's "The Expelled."
"Memories are killing. So you must not think of certain things, or those that are dear to you, or rather you must think of them, for if you don't there is the danger of finding them, in your mind, little by little. That is to say, you must think of them for a while, a good while, every day several times a day, until they sink forever in the mud. That's an order."
posted by sen at 3:26 PM on September 17, 2010
"Memories are killing. So you must not think of certain things, or those that are dear to you, or rather you must think of them, for if you don't there is the danger of finding them, in your mind, little by little. That is to say, you must think of them for a while, a good while, every day several times a day, until they sink forever in the mud. That's an order."
posted by sen at 3:26 PM on September 17, 2010
I really hope you're preparing a talk on reconsolidation. If not and you have no idea what I'm talking about, there's a whole scientific literature on how retrieving memories makes them malleable and can lead to changes in the memory itself. There are also some ideas about how multiple retrievals can lessen the "epidodic" aspect of the memories (i.e., how much you're reliving them) and make them more "semantic."
posted by dino might at 8:47 AM on September 18, 2010
posted by dino might at 8:47 AM on September 18, 2010
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posted by rhizome at 10:07 AM on September 17, 2010