The Story of US(ual) Memory Figures: A Critical Discourse Analysis of America: The Story of Us

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 11
  In Roundtable Session: Loosing the Constraints: International Perspectives on Curriculum, Policy, and Memory

Abstract

Drawing on critical discourse analysis (CDA), this paper examines media representations of historical events, figures, and groups in the docudrama miniseries America: The Story of US. Corroborating the work of scholars concerned with equity and justice-oriented social studies education, this study’s themes include: skewed historical representations reinscribing oppressive notions of whiteness and heteronormativity, heritage-based historical narratives promoting settler-colonial consciousness, and consensus-oriented narratives disproportionately celebrating achievements while eschewing critical reflection of historical memories of trauma. In pursuit of disrupting harmful effects of particular media representations of history, analysis concludes with a discussion of opportunities to develop critical media literacy skills in social studies classrooms.

Author

• Heath T Robinson, The University of Texas at Austin