Memory vs Rememory
Memory vs. Rememory
Memory means storing a certain event in your life and at the given moment remembering or recalling it. On the other hand, rememory is “repressed moments bubbling up from the deep” parts of your mind. So, memories are events that are in the conscious part of your mind while "rememories" are in the subconscious part. It is crazy to imagine that our brain is holding onto events that we do not consciously remember.
Elizabeth Palmer explains the reason our brains do this is because “the things that we repress are often the things that we are forced to remember, thus creating a haunting within our own minds—a haunting of memory and ‘rememory’”.
Reading that statement made me think about what events in my life have I repressed but nothing came to my mind. In Beloved, Sethe remembers her repressed memories due to certain events and actions so maybe something needs to trigger me to access my “rememories”.
This concept definitely amazes me. Our brains know us so well that when we go through something so immense that even our body and mind cannot comprehend it just simply locks it away so we can continue to survive and live. This can be a good thing because it allows us to not be scarred by those traumatic events but also leaves us with undealt trauma that, like Sethe, may come back to haunt us.
This idea of "rememory" truly is both scary and impressive. Upon reading this ability for the brain to "simply lock" memories away reminded me of a psychological thriller that I watched a while back, Fractured. In the thriller, the main character had directly caused the death of his daughter and wife. Afterwards, unable to accept this, his brain convinced him that his family was merely hurt and he proceeded to drive them to the hospital. At the hospital, he even believed himself to have checked them in and waits in the waiting room for their results. Throughout the entire movie, the main character kept this belief, really showing just theoretically how far the human brain can deceive its host to keep its "sanity."
ReplyDeleteHey Kirti! Beloved is a really interesting look into the psyche of those who have been deeply traumatized and explores the inadvertent (and sometimes advertent) repression of memories. Rememory is an interesting manifestation of the subconscious and it is interesting to see how it is a memory based more on emotions associated with it, than what actually happened. The human brain’s ability to repress memories also deserves some interest as you have shown, and it is interesting how the need for self preservation can manifest itself in different ways.
ReplyDeleteHi Kirti, I remember coming upon rememory as I was reading Beloved, but I didn't exactly know what it meant. Rememory is an intriguing concept, that there is a function of our brain that subconsciously stores away memories, particularly ones that have caused trauma. Our body has so many amazing functions that we take for granted, and by storing away these traumatic memories, we are able to move on easier and sort of put those horrific memories away into a locked part of our brain. They occasionally surface back, but I still think that this entire concept of rememory is one way that our brains were designed to cope with things that are so immensely traumatic.
ReplyDeleteHey Kirti, the concept of rememory is very interesting. This actually reminds me of the time when I saw my kindergarten classmate in one of my classes this year. Similar to how after Sethe experienced certain events, her repressed memories resurfaced, I suddenly remembered all the embarrassing moments I had in elementary school that I did not want to remember. While it was not a preferable experience, it is interesting to see how just looking at someone’s face was able to remind me of all the memories I thought I had forgotten. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHey Kirti! The concept of rememory seems strikingly similar to nostalgia. As time passes, we naturally forget many events, and even people. Recently, at a badminton game, I met one of my oldest friends from elementary school and lots of memories from my care-free kindergarten days resurfaced. To be completely honest, I almost completely forgot she even existed until she came up to me and I got a good look at her face. Regardless, rememory, in the case of Sethe, seems to be bringing up mainly traumatic events and is an interesting phenomenon. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi Kirti! Beloved by Toni Morrison features so many powerful and impactful memories that help readers better understand the characters and make them more 3 denominational. I think this really goes to show how much our memories really shape us and capture our identity since we only hold experiences that are meaningful to us as memories. For me, memories are triggered when I do something that reminds me of a part of the memory I have. Memories always surprise me because I often forget these memories exist and remembering them again gives me a sense of relief that my past experiences are not lost. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi Kirti, the topic of rememory is very interesting and the way you associated your interest in it with the book, Beloved, with Sethe is quite compelling. The example from the book where the character is able to remember through her repressed memories and through other actions and items is interesting because you said you should also be able to commemorate past events through that method as well and I feel intrigued about this topic as well. The way our brains are able to recognize certain things and automatically link them to a traumatic or even a positive memory is a topic that is yet for us to explore.
ReplyDeleteHi Kirti! Rememory is a very powerful concept in the book, as Sethe's character is constantly grappling with her past. Since her painful memories are often repressed, she is haunted and scared when she is suddenly confronted with them. Our memories are really important to us, and the concept of memories being buried or repressed over time is often a response to traumatic experiences. Our brains are really fascinating, as this mechanism essentially serves to protect us. Locking these memories away shields us from having to continually suffer, so it is really fascinating to think of just how psychologically complex human beings are.
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