Postmemory: delineating the impact of trauma on the generation-after
This article explores the concept of 'postmemory,' which describes how the generation following a traumatic event inherits the memories and psychological impacts of their predecessors. It draws on the work of Marianne Hirsch and Eva Hoffman to explain how trauma is transmitted across generations.
Why it matters
Understanding postmemory is essential for psychological and sociological studies regarding how historical trauma shapes the identity and mental health of subsequent generations.
The costs of war are multidimensional. Be it the loss of life, the direct and indirect economic implications or the displacement of families, the list is endless. However, when we usually talk about the effects of war, we primarily do so from the perspective of the generation living through it, or from a historical perspective. What does war, genocide, generational trauma, etc., do to the ‘generation-after’, especially to their lived history, experiences and memory?
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