How does remembering acts of imperialism and colonialism in literature help cultures deal with the ramifications of those periods of tumult?
SM: Memory is far from a passive act; it is an active interaction with impression left by external stimuli. Remembering historical acts of domination such as colonialism, can therefore, have a range of affective consequences on the individual and social consciousness, from trauma to shame to anger to cathartic self-recognition, even willful oblivion. Acts of remembering phases of colonialism and imperialism are therefore most meaningful when it helps those recalling such memories develop an understanding of the process and consequence of such domination. At a pragmatic level, this is historical self-awareness – on a more affective level they act as they would with any private trauma, to develop emotional, intellectual and psychic control over oppressive memories. EB: Major events in history such as periods of colonization might be considered a catastrophe by those who are being colonized. Like victims of natural disasters survivors of war, imperialism, and colonialism have had their sh
