Amnesia Quote by Arlie Russell Hochschild
““Memory, Evans-Pritchard reasoned, was an indirect expression of power. The Arenos faced structural amnesia about something else and linked it to a different source of power: the Louisiana Chemical Association, the Society of the Plastics Industry, the Vinyl Institute, Shell Oil, PPG Industries, and their leaders in government. Spokesmen for this source of power drew the popular imagination to the exciting economic fugure. The Arenos felt that their silent bayou, their buried kin, their dead trees were forgotten.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Managed Heart, 1983
Power can be exercised indirectly through cultural memory and narratives, shaping what societies remember or forget.
In simple terms: Power shapes collective memory.
Key Takeaway
Recognize hidden influences on memory.
Themes
power
memory
culture
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
sociological
inspirational
When to use this quote
- political analysis
- media literacy
- community activism
Key Concepts
social control
historical narrative
Questions to Reflect On
- Who controls the dominant narrative?
- How can forgotten histories be reclaimed?
A Different Perspective
Memory can also empower marginalized voices.
