Collective memory or myth refers to the combination "Â…of fact, wishful thinking, half-truth and outright inventionÂ…" that form the perceptions arising from a shared experience. Death So Noble by Jonathan Vance is a well written and well received, as awards and book sales attest, examination of public or collective memory pertaining to Canadian participation in the Great War. Vance relates the myth that developed and was fostered during the inter-war years, analyzing why and how it came into being, who was responsible for its creation and promotion, and the rules of discourse when questioning its validity. This collective memory or myth, Vance says, was embraced and promoted out of necessity for many reasons; the myth was at once consolatory, explanatory, served as justification and was employed as a unifying or nation building experience for a very young country. Supporting his conclusions Vance employs a postmodern approach, including such diverse sources as war memorials,......
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Approximate Word Count: 1287
Approximate Pages: 5 (260 words per double-spaced page) |