Decolonizing Memory: Algeria and the Politics of Testimony

In Decolonizing Memory, Jill Jarvis explores how literature can provide a deeper understanding of the effects of French colonization and occupation in Algeria, challenging established narratives and fostering political resistance. By examining multilingual texts and theoretical, legal, visual, and activist sources, Jarvis demonstrates how literature rewrites history, disputes state authority, and creates a multilingual archive for imagining decolonized futures.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 11 June 2021
Publisher: Duke University Press

The French's brutal colonization and occupation of Algeria (1830-1962) left a lasting impact that has only been partially captured through aesthetic works. In her book, Decolonizing Memory, Jill Jarvis explores the power of literature to provide a deeper understanding of this destruction, offering a counterbalance to demographic data, historical facts, and legal trials. Since the decolonization process began in 1962, Algerian writers have played a pivotal role in shaping historical memory and fostering political resistance. Their work contributes to making the unimaginablethinkable possible, challenging the frameworks that have organized studies of cultural memory around Euro-American reference points.

Jarvis examines a diverse range of multilingual texts by authors such as Yamina Mechakra, Waciny Laredj, Zahia Rahmani, Fadhma Aïth Mansour Amrouche, Assia Djebar, and Samira Negrouche, alongside theoretical, juridical, visual, and activist texts from both Algeria's national liberation war (1954-1962) and war on civilians (1988-1999). Through these readings, she challenges the temporal and geographical boundaries that have traditionally shaped studies of cultural memory.

One of the key themes of Jarvis's book is how literature rewrites history, challenging the authority of the state to determine justice. By examining the experiences of individuals and communities affected by colonization and occupation, Algerian writers provide a nuanced and complex account of history that challenges the dominant narratives. This literature also contributes to the cultivation of a multilingual archive for imagining decolonized futures.

Through her analysis, Jarvis demonstrates how literature can serve as a powerful tool for social change, providing a space for marginalized voices and experiences to be heard. By challenging the dominant narratives and promoting a more inclusive and diverse understanding of history, Algerian writers contribute to the ongoing struggle for decolonization and justice.

Decolonizing Memory is a valuable contribution to the field of cultural memory studies, offering a fresh perspective on the enduring effects of colonization and occupation. Jarvis's work challenges us to think critically about the ways in which literature and other cultural forms can contribute to the process of decolonization and the construction of a more equitable and inclusive world.

Weight: 540g
Dimension: 161 x 238 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478011965