Memories of May '68 : France's convenient consensus

For over forty years now, 1968 in France has been the focus of much attention. While mai 68 is certainly seen as a watershed in the development of French society, a common narrative that portrays it in an increasingly reductive light has become prevalent. As a result, the French collective memory of 1968 has been shaped and cultivated in such a way that undermines true magnitude of the 'events'. Why this is the case, who benefits from the dominance of this consensus and to what extent the history of 1968 is retrievable are the questions that underpin Memories of mai 68: France's Convenient Con
Abstract: This book charts and analyses the emergence of the conventional representation of the French events of 1968 and argues that the dominance of this narrative, despite its limitations, stems from the convenience that such a consensus provides for those that have been pivotal in shaping the collective memory of this critical moment in recent history.