rekürren

Rekürren is a neologism that has appeared in recent German-language discussions to describe a particular form of repetition that intentionally reintroduces existing content, artifacts, or ideas within a new frame. The word is not yet widely established in standard dictionaries, and its use is mostly confined to discussions of digital curation, cultural memory, and remix practices. In these contexts, rekürren connotes more than simple repetition; it signals deliberate recontextualization aimed at generating new meanings or renewing relevance.

In media studies and archiving, rekürren describes practices such as remixes, repurposed archives, re-releases, or curatorial re-framing of older works. Examples include updating a documentary with new commentary so that it speaks to contemporary audiences, re-curating a museum collection around new interpretive themes, or reusing historical materials within a contemporary art project to invite fresh interpretations.

Scholars distinguish rekürren from recurrence or recurrence in data; the key distinction is intentional curation and contextual shift rather than mere repetition. Some critics worry that the term overlaps with established concepts like remixing, repurposing, or re-curation, and its precise definition remains debated.

Because rekürren is still emergent, its usage varies by community, and it may develop different nuances in literature on digital culture, memory studies, and archiving.