Memory Embedded

Abstract

Place and memory are embedded in our cultural landscape. Techniques of preserving stories vary significantly according to religious beliefs and cultural values. Knowledge of these differences can inform memorial making. Natural places are the memory places of many cultural groups, while the Western memory patterns tend to require a designed form to hold memories. Both types of places inform ritual and activism. Some rituals are planned, and others emerge spontaneously from the use of the site. In Salem, the ritual begins by reciting the words from the trials, while in Hiroshima it ends with a candlelighting ceremony at dusk. Many historic monuments and some present day memorials focus on honoring the dominant culture. Currently there is also a trend to remember individual stories of courage against oppression, such as the Biddy Mason Project in Los Angeles. Continuing to remember the multitude of stories, either through designed spaces or preserving sacred ancestral lands, can assist in maintaining cultural continuity into the twenty-first century.