TY - JOUR

T1 - Reconstructing the ‘Reconquista’

T2 - Students’ negotiation of a Spanish master narrative

AU - van Alphen, Floor

AU - Wagoner, Brady

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2021.

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - To analyse the different appropriations of the ‘Reconquest’ narrative schema in Spanish collective memory, this paper proposes a study following Bartlett’s method of repeated reproduction. Students from different backgrounds, within and outside of Spain, were presented historical narratives from less familiar perspectives than the traditional nationalist perspective. One week and again several months later they were asked to reproduce it. Over time their reconstructions tend to be progressively conventionalised, fitting it to the form of the traditional national historical narrative familiar to them. However, students simultaneously reflect on the term ‘Reconquest’ and its narrative schema. They turn around upon this schema, negotiate critical narrative elements or personalise the narrative they had read. These findings encourage further research into the complexity of schematic reconstructions and, ultimately, the reconstruction of schemas through reflection from other points of view.

AB - To analyse the different appropriations of the ‘Reconquest’ narrative schema in Spanish collective memory, this paper proposes a study following Bartlett’s method of repeated reproduction. Students from different backgrounds, within and outside of Spain, were presented historical narratives from less familiar perspectives than the traditional nationalist perspective. One week and again several months later they were asked to reproduce it. Over time their reconstructions tend to be progressively conventionalised, fitting it to the form of the traditional national historical narrative familiar to them. However, students simultaneously reflect on the term ‘Reconquest’ and its narrative schema. They turn around upon this schema, negotiate critical narrative elements or personalise the narrative they had read. These findings encourage further research into the complexity of schematic reconstructions and, ultimately, the reconstruction of schemas through reflection from other points of view.

KW - collective memory

KW - conventionalisation

KW - cultural psychology

KW - historical narratives

KW - reflection

KW - schema

U2 - 10.1177/17506980211033325

DO - 10.1177/17506980211033325

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85111845367

VL - 16

SP - 1156

EP - 1172

JO - Memory Studies

JF - Memory Studies

SN - 1750-6980

IS - 5

ER -