Motif Academy Journal of Folklore

Abstract

Memory, the capacity to retain and recall past events in an individual's mind, operates on both an individual and collective level. The perpetuation of images and experiences from the past through various practices unveils a structure that activates cultural continuity, subsequently influencing societal awareness. This structure, which enhances group identity, essentially brings to light the interplay between memory and written records. Memory elements that shape the past and construct the future are preserved through literary works. In this context, the kopuz, a foundational descriptor of Turkish culture and identity, and a shared value in the Turkic world, integrates seamlessly into the national discourse of Kyrgyz writers across diverse genres such as poetry, novels, stories, and theater. It serves as a memory element that establishes and maintains both individual and societal temporal continuity. During Kyrgyzstan's Soviet era, the incorporation of cultural elements in Kyrgyz literature played a role in societal remembrance, forming a function that established a collective "We" identity under the guidance of the socialist regime. Post-independence Kyrgyz literature continues this trend. This article investigates the utilization of the kopuz as a memory element in Kyrgyz literature through a representative sampling of poetry, novels, stories, and theatrical works. The literary works addressing and highlighting the kopuz are observed to function as environments for preservation and storage, facilitating the connection of society with the past through the cultural codes and memory elements they contain. Furthermore, these works contribute to an individual's interpretation of memories and the future, encompassing functions of encoding, storing, recalling, and preventing forgetting.