While discussing Kate Douglas’ article regarding the trend of capturing selfies at “trauma memorial sites” (2017), I considered the possibility that this was occurring because youth are typically unfamiliar to the emotional context of these specific locations. The two key memorials mentioned were the Pearl Harbour site and the Nazi concentration camp “Auschwitz”, both associated with historical crises from over 50 years ago.
Douglas suggests that “people respond differently to the after-effects of trauma based on such variables as age, cultural background, and physical or emotional proximity to an event” (2017). This supports the idea that as a younger generation, we fail to realize the significance of these past tragedies, simply because we have a weak connection to them. Whereas the older generations automatically have a greater understanding of their importance due to the fact they have memories of their occurrences.
But what about more the more current events?
Douglas very briefly listed the World Trade Centre memorial site for 9/11 when addressing the global popularity of “trauma memorial sites” (2017) which brought me to research if this specific location was experiencing similar behaviors as the article’s older focuses.
Sure enough, I found multiple posts and articles displaying and discussing the selfies taken at the site of one of the most prominent and horrific events to take place thus far in the 21st century. Specifically, one article written by Leah Finnegan entitled “Selfies from the 9/11 Memorial” discusses not only the profound action of capturing yourself with the structure, but also how the structure itself “functions more like a tourist rest stop than a place of somber reflection” (Finnegan 2014). This is explained through personal stories of people eating snacks off the names of on the plaques, climbing into the fountain to cool off, or even just taking a selfie with the memorial without acknowledging the tragedy that took place a mere 16 years ago.
However, this is only what we assume. We don’t truly know why people behave around these significant memorials in a seemingly oblivious fashion until we hear their reasoning.
During my research, I also encountered a separate article with ABC News (2014), interviewing 18-year-old Chris Canning who was among the many people who have captured a selfie at the 9/11 memorial and posted it to social media. Canning first states “this was my first time in New York City, I wanted to capture a special moment” and then later explains how he wanted a photo of himself with the memorial to remember how he felt on that day and to be able to share that profound memory with his family.
Explained in Douglas’ article “selfies are now a central method for not only self-representation but also cultural engagement” (Brooke Wendt 2014:7). For some people, taking a photo of yourself with a significant part of history allows for a gateway of connections and a recollection of memories. For others, it’s a social norm used to establish themselves despite being unaware of its significance.
Works Cited:
Murray, Rheana. “Why I Took a Selfie at 9/11 Memorial: One Teen’s Story.” ABC News, ABC News Network, 23 June 2014, 2:02, abcnews.go.com/US/selfie-911-memorial-teens-story/story?id=24676819.
Finnegan, Leah. “Selfies from the 9/11 Memorial.” The Awl, Michael Machertr, 21 July 2014, www.theawl.com/2014/07/selfies-from-the-911-memorial/.
Douglas, Kate. “Youth, Trauma and Memorialisation: The Selfie as Witnessing.” Youth, Trauma and Memorialisation: The Selfie as WitnessingMemory Studies – Kate Douglas, 2017, SAGE Publications, 11 July 2017, journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1750698017714838
