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Men, mountains and memory: Discourses of wilderness, entitlement and gender in online and media debates on mountainside memorials

Maddrell, Avril

Authors

Avril Maddrell



Abstract

The proliferation of 'spontaneous' memorials in British uplands has resulted in fierce contestation of memorialisation practices on mountain tops. This contestation has been expressed performatively, principally through the removal of memorials, and discursively through interest group discusssions online and in the media. Analysis of these debates shows three key strands: constructions of mountain insider/ outsider that relates to authenticity and entitlement to memorialisation; particular representations of wilderness and the natural; and related forms of masculinity which establish (limited) acceptable perameters for emotional expression, including the emotions of others. These findings are discussed in relation to a model for understanding the spatialities of bereavement, and wider debates about private memorials in public spaces and mechanisms evolving to regulate this practice through spatial management and control.

Citation

Maddrell, A. (2008, June). Men, mountains and memory: Discourses of wilderness, entitlement and gender in online and media debates on mountainside memorials. Paper presented at AHRC Conference: Memory, Mourning and Landscape, Glasgow, Scotland, UK

Presentation Conference Type Conference Paper (unpublished)
Conference Name AHRC Conference: Memory, Mourning and Landscape
Conference Location Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Start Date Jun 9, 2008
End Date Jun 9, 2008
Publication Date Jun 9, 2008
Peer Reviewed Not Peer Reviewed
Keywords wilderness, entitlement, gender, online and media debates, mountainside memorials
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1011703
Publisher URL http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/critical/research/conferences/conferencearchive/symposiummemorymourningandlandscape/
Additional Information Title of Conference or Conference Proceedings : AHRC Conference: Memory, Mourning and Landscape


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