Good Evening Everyone!
I was recently introduced the article “Youth trauma and memorialisation: The selfie as witnessing” by Katherine Douglas. It’s a read that may change ones view of the simple concept of the “selfie”. It raises questions about whether taking a selfie at a memorial sight is an appropriate behavior and whether the act can be justified. As a member of todays youth I find this topic relevant and therefore I will try to unpack some of the ideas presented in Douglas article. There is controversy of the act of taking a selfie, because it’s often associated with “vanity, narcissism and fakery” (Douglas, 2017).
The purpose of a selfie often becomes apparent when it’s uploaded to some kind of social media. It’s publicity inspires opinions on it’s use and meaning. Douglas, interestingly brings up the “dark selfies” in relation to “dark tourism”. I wanted to expand on the similarities of these two concepts. Memorials is know as a place for the public to come for mourning and witnessing. Often these becomes sights of interest for tourists, especially famous sights such as the 9/11 memorial. Even without a direct relationship with the event, they come to partake in the mourning and to keep the history alive. (Lennon, Foley 2006) Similarly the youth may use the selfie as a kind of documentation of once mourning, it becomes a way of second hand witnessing. Arguments against taking a selfie at a memorial is often the lack of respect and distraction away from the meaning of the sight. Douglas cites Daily Mail’s article on “self-portraits in inappropriate locations” and how they are “grossly insensitive”, However, this may also occur with tourism without the use of cameras. People may come there for the social aspects and to be able to “tell the story” without thought and intention to honor the deceased. Having a coffee with a friend talking about last Saturday at a memorial might take away from the important act of remembrance. This indicates that respect can be shown in different ways, so a selfie can convey respect and other times be disrespectful.
An interesting example of this was shown at the holocaust memorial in Berlin, it’s very simplistic and easily accessible to the public. Built to honor all the people that died in the holocaust. The purpose of this memorial can often be misinterpreted and people use the space for entertainment. This was shown in an article by BBC News “Yolocaust, How should you behave at a holocaust memorial?”, when Shahak Shapira, a jewish german-Israeli writer, proceeded to edit photos of people taking inappropriate pictures in the memorial. Thereby, I want to emphasize that taking a selfie can be an act of respect, in one context, it becomes a way of raising awareness, just like mourning in silence should be an accepted act of respect. On the other hand there will also be inappropriate behavior that can take place at a memorial with or without a camera.
/Anni Persson
Works cited:
Douglas, Kate, “Youth, trauma and memorialisation: The selfie as witnessing” Memory Studies, 2017: 1-16
Gunter, Joel. “’Yolocaust’: How should you behave at a Holocaust memorial?” BBC News, BBC, 20 Jan. 2017, www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38675835. Accessed 21 Sept. 2017.
Lennon, J. John., and Malcolm Foley. Dark tourism: Andover, Hampshire, Cengage Learning EMEA, 2010.
Reporter, Daily Mail. “Curse of the Grossly Insensitive Selfies: Teens Picturing Themselves at the Most Inappropriate Places – Including Ground Zero, a Holocaust Memorial and Even in Front of DEAD Relatives.” Daily Mail Online, Associated Newspapers, 29 Aug. 2013, www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2405379/Selfies-Serious-Places-blog-shows-self-portraits-inappropriate-locations.html.