Digital memory research in Chinese and English literature: a DTM-based topic evolution and comparative analysis

Abstract With the deepening integration of digital technology and humanities research, digital memory has gradually become a research hotspot in the field of digital humanities in recent years. However, current digital memory research suffers from fragmented theoretical systems and a lack of cross-cultural comparative studies, making systematic review of existing research both theoretically and practically significant. This study draws on research findings on digital memory from Chinese and English databases over the past two decades. Using the Dynamic Topic Model (DTM), it identifies research hotspots and analyzes their temporal evolution. From the three dimensions of cultural tradition, institutional environment, and academic paradigm, the study reveals cross-cultural differences in digital memory research within Chinese and English scholarly contexts and further proposes potential pathways for future development. The results indicate that research hotspots on digital memory exhibit a distinct pattern: Chinese studies emphasize system construction, whereas English studies focus more on cultural critique. Specifically, digital memory research in Chinese literature tends to strengthen cultural integration under policy-driven frameworks, while English literature highlights the political tensions of memory through technological criticism. Looking ahead, digital memory research should aim to build a more open and inclusive global digital memory ecosystem through subject collaboration, mechanism innovation, and contextual practice. This study innovatively constructs a cross-cultural research framework for digital memory, comprehensively uncovering its topic evolution and contextual differences over time, thereby providing a theoretical reference for future research in this field.