The Recent Rise of the Research Field of Memory Studies, and the Use / Range of its Perspectives, in Relation to the Much Older Fields of Folklore and Folkloristics

Abstract

In January 2008, there was launched in England by SAGE Publications the first issue / number of a new scholarly journal, one entitled Memory Studies, which had set out, boldly and reflectively, the intended agenda, challenges, and prospects for the then to be formally designated research field of 'Memory Studies'. Significantly for Australia, its foundation editors were then listed as being: Andrew Hoskins, Principal Editor, C/o, University of Warwick, UK; Amanda Barnier, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; Wulf Kanstener, State University of New York, at Binghampton, USA; and John Sutton, of Macquarie University, Sydney. In late 2013, as for the issue No 4, for its Volume 6, the first, second and fourth of the above were still in office, with the second being replaced by another Australian, Catherine Stevens of the University of Western Sydney. Thus the Australian leadership and responsibilities had not decreased, nor had its close proximity of southern location of the editors, while the Editorial Board had some 68 scholars listed - these including, from Australasia - both Scott McQuire and Elaine Reece, of the University of Otago.