Biblical Themes and Old Testament Special Topic: Do This In Remembrance of Me: History, Memory, & Be

(7.5 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

This module explores memory in the Bible and recent scholarship on memory studies. It considers memory techniques (rote memorisation, shortened and miniaturised manuscripts), ritual commemoration, and historiography as communal formation. It also introduces students to the history and theory of memory studies, from Aristotle to recent work on social and cultural memory. Intended Learning Outcomes At the end of the module, students will understand the place of memory and memory techniques within the corpora of early Judaism and Christianity, including not only the Hebrew Bible but non-canonical texts from early Judaism and early Christianity, have a rudimentary understanding of the history and theory of memory studies, critically interact with complex arguments about memory and memory studies through class discussions and written work, and plan, research, and complete a structured and reasoned essay on a biblical, early Jewish, or early Christian text.