Blossoms Shanghai as a Carrier of Memory: The “Construction” and “Function” of Collective Memory

Abstract

Blossoms Shanghai meticulously depicts Shanghai in the 1990s, illustrating the construction and function of collective memory, revealing how memory is activated and reproduced in media. The series not only recreates the lifestyle details and social changes in Shanghai post-reform and opening-up but also constructs the audience’s collective imagination of the past through specific narrative techniques and visual styles, merging individual memory with collective memory to form a widely shared social framework. This process introduces the concepts of “memory glimmer” and “prosthetic memory,” deepening the understanding of the interaction between individual and collective memory. These concepts show how the triggering of details and the recreation of historical contexts enhance emotional resonance and memory activation among viewers. Simultaneously, Blossoms Shanghai demonstrates the function of collective memory in maintaining social stability and integration, reinforcing social identity and cultural empathy among viewers by presenting shared cultural heritage and regional characteristics. This is crucial for understanding the role of collective memory in shaping social identity and cultural continuity.