Lecture by Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Aleida Assmann on “The Future of Memory”

In the context of commemorating the liberation of Auschwitz 80 years ago, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Aleida Assmann gave a lecture on “The Future of Remembrance” at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt on January 23, 2025: addressing the question of how memory can remain alive as a human capacity that is not backward-looking, even in a time when there are hardly any eyewitnesses left to pass it on.

Aleida Assmann, professor (retired) of English literature and general literary studies at the University of Konstanz, is known far beyond the confines of the university, not least for her comprehensive studies on memory and remembrance. Among other things, she and Jan Assmann, with whom she has published several volumes, coined the term “cultural memory,” which has been an integral part of the discourse on the subject for several decades. In addition to the many other awards Aleida Assmann has received to date, Aleida and Jan Assmann were jointly awarded the prestigious Peace Prize of the German Book Trade in 2018. Her most recent book, Gemeinsinn. Der sechste, soziale Sinn (Munich: C.H. Beck), was published in 2024.

(Barbara Kuhn, KU Eichstätt)

Here are a few comments from students:

Can you remember something you didn't experience yourself? And do you have to have experienced everything you supposedly remember? It would have been easy for Ms. Assmann to start a tiresome philosophical discussion on these questions late on Thursday evening. She refrained from doing so. She also refrained from lecturing the audience with platitudes about the Holocaust. Instead, with her calm, clear, and at the same time captivating manner, she managed to make us think. I would like to express my sincere thanks to Ms. Assmann and the organizers of the evening for this. One aspect that particularly stuck in my mind was her clear stance against so-called “victim competition”: confronting the cruelty of one inhuman act does not overshadow another, but rather brings it into the light as well. When I enthusiastically told an old school friend about the lecture, she replied that she (my friend) couldn't deal with this “burden” right now, as everyday life was stressful enough and others probably needed to deal with the Holocaust more. I think Ms. Assmann made it very clear that no one should be held collectively responsible for the actions—or inaction?—of previous generations. However, no one will ever be able to rid themselves of the burden of responsibility that comes with being human. Or, as José Samarago said: “We are the memories we have and the responsibilities we take on. Without memories, we do not exist, and without responsibility, we may not deserve to exist.”

----------

A perfectly normal Thursday in Eichstätt:

Instead of studying for my upcoming exam, I spontaneously decided to attend a lecture by someone I didn't know, who apparently enjoys a high reputation among history students in particular. When I entered the room in the Capuchin monastery, it was just as crowded as it had been at the summer ball. This obvious celebrity was first introduced by Prof. Stauffer and then by Prof. Kuhn, the organizer, with words of praise. I wondered briefly about the commotion until Ms. Assmann began with a question whose exciting answer I had long since forgotten: Who liberated Auschwitz? Do you know the answer?
What followed were entertaining hours of a captivating lecture that made me painfully aware of how little I had really reflected on the culture of remembrance until then. There could have been no more fitting event at the KU for this often-suppressed anniversary. In addition to the new possibilities presented, which are intended to help bring the culture of remembrance into the classroom, I was particularly impressed by Ms. Assmann's calm yet captivating manner. She managed to calmly open up space for reflection on exciting questions—and as a future teacher, I really took that to heart.
It is these fleeting, well-placed evening events that make the KU so special.

----------

An unforgettable evening with Aleida Assmann: The Future of Memory

There are lectures that resonate—not only in the minds but also in the hearts of the audience. One such evening was January 23, 2025, at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, when renowned cultural scientist and recipient of numerous awards, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Aleida Assmann, spoke on “The Future of Memory – Remembering for the Future.”
For many, it was hard to believe that such a distinguished scholar would be visiting our university – which made the anticipation for her lecture all the greater. And it was more than fulfilled. With impressive words and profound knowledge, Prof. Assmann introduced the audience to the complex topic of memory culture. Her lecture, which took place on the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, inspired not only numerous lecturers but also students from a wide range of disciplines.
Particularly impressive was her idea that remembering and forgetting are inextricably linked. The sentence “A person lives when their name is mentioned” resonated for a long time and highlighted the essential importance of remembrance. Memory is not only a look back, but also a responsibility for the future.
For me personally, this evening had a special significance: in addition to providing new perspectives for my bachelor's thesis on the culture of remembrance, it opened up valuable networking opportunities. But far beyond the personal level, this lecture was a powerful plea for the importance of confronting the past in order to consciously shape the future.
Ms. Assmann not only made an academic contribution, but also imbued the day of remembrance with new meaning—and thus created a memory that will remain.