Over the past seventy years, the Allied invasion of Northwestern
France in June 1944 has come to stand as something more than a
major battle in an increasingly distant war. The assault itself
formed a vital component of Allied victory in the Second World War.
D-Day, as the initial landing is traditionally termed, has
developed into a sign and symbol; as a word it carries with it a
series of ideas and associations that have come to symbolize
different things to different people and nations. As such, the
commemorative activities linked to the battle offer a window for
viewing the various belligerents in their postwar years. From high
statesmen down to everyday individuals, people have spent the
post-war period interpreting and drawing upon D-Day for a variety
of reasons. As with all instances of collective memory, there is a
politics at play, for the past serves to help make sense of the
ever-changing present.
This book examines the commonalities and differences in national
collective memories of D-Day. Chapters cover the main forces on the
day of battle, including the United States, Great Britain, Canada,
France and Germany. In addition, a chapter on Russian memory of the
invasion explores other views of the battle. The overall thrust of
the book shows that memories of the past vary over time, link to
present-day needs, and, despite the impact of transnational
globalization, such memories also still have a clear national and
cultural specificity. Simply put, memories of D-Day have diverged
according to time, place, and national culture.
These memories arise in a multitude of locations such as film,
books, monuments, anniversary celebrations, and news media
representations. Rather than simply drawing on a series of "facts"
about the past, the attribution of specific meanings and themes to
this battle show how individuals, groups, and even nations draw on
the past to validate the present and chart a course for the future.
As with most expressions of cultural power, though, contests over
these meanings abound, and the struggles, changes, and even
continuities in memory over time all offer profound insights into
these various societies in the decades since the battle itself
concluded.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
