Tony Le

Tony Le

FROM TRAGEDY TO MEMORIES

The act of commemoration and bereavement of the past is no longer the form of expression present in today's society. Localized mourning no longer exists as tragedies have become a public and communal experience. In the wake of 9/11, public mourning reached new heights as the nation and the world grieved for those involved in the event. In an act of uncertainty and desperation, spontaneous shrines were erected locally and globally and missing posters were found on every street corner. Public places were suddenly transformed into sacred shrines, adorned with mementoes, pictures, and written messages. What is the underlying meaning associated with this phenomenon and why did our grief manifest in this form? While spontaneous shrines became the dominant form to commemorate the event as it happened, web shrines have emerged as the new form of remembrance. Thousands of web memorials were created by individuals as well as institutions to memorialize friends, families, and even strangers. Developed in a virtual environment, these intangible shrines take on new meaning. What are the implications for this transformation of private into public mourning and how does it change our notion of the personalized memorial?