Versuch einer schärferen Konturierung des Kulturembegriffs
An Attempt to Sharpen the Concept of Cultureme

Summary/Abstract: This paper makes an effort to specify the notion of cultureme which has circulated in the humanities for a quite long time. Since the introduction of this notion some 30 years ago, researchers have been consistently conducted studies on culturemes, however with the possible side effect of overloading and inflating the category in question. Despite that, it is worth a try to capitalise on the heterogenity of the cultureme notion and to enhance the handling of this seemingly omnipotent category through conceptual fusions or synergies. Such an attempt will be made here, and it will be founded on linking culture to collective memory and identity. In this trialistic attraction field there will be made a kind of conceptual deep drilling, taking its point of departure in the notion of identity. One of the most important identity poles for EU citizens can be seen in national identity (Fukuyama 2019: 182), therefore it will serve as a continuation point for the specification of the cultureme notion, which will certainly not get around an empirically hedged operationalisation of the targeted reference point (i.e. national identity). It is for instance possible in this context to base the required operationalisation on the sociologically established category of national pride, which is as well referred back in the article. As a final outcome a realignment of the cultureme notion is offered for discussion.

• Details
• Contents