Summary:
Foot, Warnick, and Schneider study the characteristics of online memorials, specifically those of the September 11 terrorist attacks, in the work, “Web-Based Memorializing After September 11: Toward a Conceptual Framework.” The authors attempt to both show the differences between “online” and “offline” memorials and create a set of characteristics with which online memorials can be compared. The authors cite works of Martini and Geser, saying, “Like Geser (1998), he [Martini] emphasizes the flexibility of expression in a web environment where authors can use multimedia [...] to provide virtual displays of remembrance and where expression is unconstrained by the limitations of traditional media” (78). The authors also derive through the analysis of eight memorial websites, four of which are by institutional authorship, and four of which are individuals’ websites, that the characterizing traits of web memorials include the following: object or focus of commemoration, individual or coproduction, univocal or multivocal, time of posting in relation to the event, dynamic qualities of the site, the intended audience, and the site’s relation to the victims (89-90). Toward the end of the paper, the authors attempt to generalize a differentiation between institutional sites and individuals sites; they claim that, “[...] differences [...] are not clear-cut” (92). This publication was printed in the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, which, according to the journal’s website, is a scholarly journal documenting communication mediated by computer-based network technologies. The authors, all being members of educational institutes, stake their professional reputation on the article. Though the authors do make a call to continue research in the area of classifying web memorials, the paper acts more as a thesis of characteristics by which memorial site classification can be conducted.
Inquiry:
Seeing as the authors cite so many sources and include so much concrete evidence in this work, it is very difficult to qualify the claim. I agree that the seven characteristics listed in the paper (“1) object/focus of commemoration; 2) coproduction; 3) voice; 4) immediacy; 5) fixity; 6) intended audience; and 7) relational positioning of victims,”) could constitute a comprehensive set of characteristics in comparing online memorials. Many of the traits listed can be applied to other forms of media; object/focus on commemoration is synonymous to topic and coproduction to authorship, voice is inherent in writing style, immediacy and fixity are applicable to other web publications, audience is applicable to many forms of writing, and relational position of victims closely relates to topic (79). I propose the following questions:
- Is the above list of traits comprehensive enough to characterize memorial websites? Could different events be compared using these traits?
- What other websites or types of media can be analyzed using these characteristics?
- Is there a “clear-cut” distinction between memorial websites made by institutions and those mode by individuals?
Posts
In response to the third question you posed, no I honestly do not think that there is a clear cut distinction between online or virtual memorials made my individuals and those made by institutions. In my opinion, a memorial website made by an individual can have as big of an impact as one made by an institution. I don't think that it is necessary for institutions to create things which we hold close and important to ourselves because individuals have the tools and resources to have the same impact as an institution when creating something such as a memorial website. To me there does not appear to be a way to clearly define and separate those websites made by individuals or an institution because with present technology, it is possible for one person to compile the data and set up a memorial website like an institution has set up memorials in the past. While I think that because of ethos, or ethical credibility, some people might see memorials made by institutions more credible than those made by individuals, I believe that memorials made by individuals have the capability of being more effective because of the level of personal interaction and feeling. I realize that this is slightly off topic from the question you asked, but I do think its an important aspect to think about when discussing virtual memorials!
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