Remontimise

Remontimise is a neologism used in some strands of media studies and design to describe the deliberate reconstruction of a cultural artefact, idea, or policy by reassembling its components and embedding them within a new interpretive frame. The aim is to preserve core elements while adding contemporary metadata, commentary, or contextual cues that modify the artifact’s reception without fully discarding its original material.

In practice, remontisation involves several commonly described moves: selecting foundational components, introducing new contextual layers, re-curating the piece for a different audience or medium, and evaluating the effect on meaning and impact. Proponents argue that the approach can illuminate neglected perspectives and foster dialogue between past and present, while critics warn that it risks oversimplification or selective memory.

Fields of application include film and television, where director’s cuts and re-edits foreground new themes; museum and gallery curation, which reframe historical artefacts for contemporary audiences; and public policy or organizational discourse, where past initiatives are reframed to align with current values or priorities. Digital platforms and remix cultures similarly employ remontisation to blend old and new content in recontextualized formats.

Criticism centers on questions of authenticity, authority, and the potential for revisionism that obscures original context. As a term, remontimise remains contested and is used primarily in theoretical discussions rather than as a standardized methodological protocol. See also: remix, recontextualization, authorship debates.