The naturalized nation: Anchoring, objectification and naturalized social representations of history
Author(s) / Creator(s)
Hakoköngäs, Eemeli
Sakki, Inari
Abstract / Description
This study focuses on the connection between social representations of history and collective memory from the perspective of elementary concepts of social representations theory: anchoring, objectification and naturalization. The aims of the study are to arrive at a conceptual clarity of this connection and demonstrate how to apply basic concepts of social representations theory to the study of collective memory. The study also focuses on the naturalized characteristics of Finnish history. The data consist of the covers of twenty Finnish history books between the years 1965 and 2014. All the covers are embellished with typography or visual images. The covers were analysed using a semiotic approach in which the interest is in the description (denotation), the associations (connotation) and the meaning system these construe (myth). The analysis shows how national history is concretized with visual images (objectification), how the meaning of representation is conveyed (anchoring) and how collective memory is maintained (naturalization), transmitted and shaped during the years. The results show how the stable collective memories and changing social representations of history are interacting. The most frequently used visual element was the colour blue, which alludes to the Finnish flag, a symbol of the nation that represents the core of Finnish history. The study suggests that it is possible to conceptualize collective memories as naturalized social representations of history. It shows how processes of anchoring and objectification serve as tools of collective memory and how the naturalized conceptions are subtly changed. In addition, the study develops the use of visual semiotic analysis in social representations research.
Keyword(s)
social representations collective memory anchoring objectification naturalization visual analysisPersistent Identifier
Date of first publication
2016-12-19
Journal title
Journal of Social and Political Psychology
Volume
4
Issue
2
Page numbers
646–669
Publisher
PsychOpen GOLD
Publication status
publishedVersion
Review status
peerReviewed
Is version of
Citation
Hakoköngäs, E., & Sakki, I. (2016). The naturalized nation: Anchoring, objectification and naturalized social representations of history. Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 4(2), 646–669. https://doi.org/10.5964/jspp.v4i2.664
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jspp.v4i2.664.pdfAdobe PDF - 14.87MBMD5: fd9f4ce83aeb30f82292b885315a5521
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There are no other versions of this object.
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Hakoköngäs, Eemeli
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Sakki, Inari
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PsychArchives acquisition timestamp2018-11-26T12:44:42Z
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Made available on2018-11-26T12:44:42Z
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Date of first publication2016-12-19
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Abstract / DescriptionThis study focuses on the connection between social representations of history and collective memory from the perspective of elementary concepts of social representations theory: anchoring, objectification and naturalization. The aims of the study are to arrive at a conceptual clarity of this connection and demonstrate how to apply basic concepts of social representations theory to the study of collective memory. The study also focuses on the naturalized characteristics of Finnish history. The data consist of the covers of twenty Finnish history books between the years 1965 and 2014. All the covers are embellished with typography or visual images. The covers were analysed using a semiotic approach in which the interest is in the description (denotation), the associations (connotation) and the meaning system these construe (myth). The analysis shows how national history is concretized with visual images (objectification), how the meaning of representation is conveyed (anchoring) and how collective memory is maintained (naturalization), transmitted and shaped during the years. The results show how the stable collective memories and changing social representations of history are interacting. The most frequently used visual element was the colour blue, which alludes to the Finnish flag, a symbol of the nation that represents the core of Finnish history. The study suggests that it is possible to conceptualize collective memories as naturalized social representations of history. It shows how processes of anchoring and objectification serve as tools of collective memory and how the naturalized conceptions are subtly changed. In addition, the study develops the use of visual semiotic analysis in social representations research.en_US
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Publication statuspublishedVersion
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Review statuspeerReviewed
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CitationHakoköngäs, E., & Sakki, I. (2016). The naturalized nation: Anchoring, objectification and naturalized social representations of history. Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 4(2), 646–669. https://doi.org/10.5964/jspp.v4i2.664en_US
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ISSN2195-3325
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Persistent Identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/1423
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Persistent Identifierhttps://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.1698
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Language of contenteng
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PublisherPsychOpen GOLD
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Is version ofhttps://doi.org/10.5964/jspp.v4i2.664
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Keyword(s)social representationsen_US
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Keyword(s)collective memoryen_US
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Keyword(s)anchoringen_US
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Keyword(s)objectificationen_US
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Keyword(s)naturalizationen_US
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Keyword(s)visual analysisen_US
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Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)150
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TitleThe naturalized nation: Anchoring, objectification and naturalized social representations of historyen_US
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DRO typearticle
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Issue2
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Journal titleJournal of Social and Political Psychology
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Page numbers646–669
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Volume4
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Visible tag(s)Version of Record