Description
Book SynopsisThis book examines the ways individuals in the US and Russia consume and construct collective memories of political events via a reestablished Cold War-like narrative in both media systems. The book contextualizes the rebirth of this phenomenon via seven political events involving Russia, examining the contemporary role of conscious media distrust in subconscious psychological processes.
Trade ReviewIsurin brings deep expertise on culture and media in the U.S. and Russia to show how prejudice toward the other grows out its desire to project its own attitudes and values as superior. She then goes on to demonstrate how this dynamic organizes national memory. She also argues that at least in some instances an independent, liberal media in Russia provides a surprising critical view that is less evident on the American side. Her conclusions may be uncomfortable for both American and Russian readers, but that is the point and one of the book's great contributions. This is a brilliant contribution to memory studies in general, and to advancing understanding of why relations between Russia and the U.S. remain so fraught. * James V. Wertsch, David R. Francis Distinguished Professor, Department of Anthropology, Washington University in St. Louis. Author of How Nations Remember: A Narrative Approach *
In a masterful marriage between a deep understanding of Russian and American political culture and a careful reading of both countries' media, Isurin provides a unique insight into how media both shapes and reflects the collective memories of a nation. This book is a must-read for any student interested in the current antagonisms between Russia and the US, as well as for students of collective memory exploring the role of media in politics. * William Hirst, Professor of Psychology, The New School for Social Research *
Overall, Reenacting the Enemy. Collective Memory Construction in Russian and US Media is a useful, thought-provoking and meticulous book...It will be of value to those interested in cognitive psychology, international relations and media studies, especially the interplay between collective memory, media and the mind. * Tingting Hu, Associate Professor, School of International Studies, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China, *
Table of ContentsIntroduction Part I: Theoretical background Chapter 1: Group memory: Construction, reconstruction, and distortion Chapter 2: Collective memory, journalism, and news making Chapter 3: How the mind processes text, media news, and misinformation Chapter 4: Socio-cognitive approach to the construction of memory: At the intersection of media, memory, and the mind Part 2: Collective memory construction in Russian and U.S. media Chapter 5: Media, the mind and the reenactment of the enemy: Methodology Chapter 6: Takeover of Crimea Chapter 7: Conflict in Eastern Ukraine and the MH17 downing Chapter 8: Civil war in Syria and the 2016 U.S. elections Chapter 9: The 2014 Sochi Olympics and the 2018 poisoning of the Skripals Chapter 10: How the mind constructs a memory of recent political events Part 3: Reenacting the enemy in media and in the mind Chapter 11: Memory, media, and the mind: Revisiting the framework Conclusion
