VERSUS n. 119 (july-december 2014)
Traces of Terror, Signs of Trauma
edited by Rob van der Laarse, Francesco Mazzucchelli, Carlos Reijnen
Isbn: NA Issn: 0393-8255
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After a recently published special issue devoted to the “politics of memory”, Versus delves again into the rich field of memory studies, this time reversing the approach. While in that volume the selection of contributions was “methodological” (how semiotics can deal with such concepts as collective and cultural memory and what kind of analysis it can produce), this time we opted for a thematic criterion, choosing a subject that is at the same time theoretical and analytical. We now focus on the relation between space and memory, namely the symbolic dimension in the processes of spatialization of collective memories of war in Europe. The objects under investigation in the articles here presented are museums, and places but also landscapes or simply segments of spatial environments that play a role in the shared reminiscences of a community.
Introduction
by Rob van der Laarse, Francesco Mazzucchelli, Carlos Reijnen
pp. 3-19
If wood were an element: Primo Levi and the material world
by Gerry Kearns
pp. 21-49
Spectacularising Trauma: The experientialist visitor of Memory Museums
pp. 51-70
Representation of Mass Atrocities in Imagined ‘Commemorative Arenas’
pp. 71-91
From terrorscape to leisurescape. A case study of “Stalin World” in Lithuania
by Patrick Naef
pp. 93-108
Spaces, memoryscapes and the cinematic imaginary: ghosts and stories
pp. 109-129
The Upperworld and Underworld of Nazi Terror in Trieste
pp. 131-155
From Monte Sole massacres to Marzabotto slaughter and back
pp. 157-172