Chernobyl in the Postmemory Zone. The Guide Narration of Alexander Sirota – „the Mayor” of Pripyat Cover Image

Czarnobyl w strefie postpamięci. O narracji przewodnickiej Aleksandra Siroty – „Mera" Prypeci
Chernobyl in the Postmemory Zone. The Guide Narration of Alexander Sirota – „the Mayor” of Pripyat

Author(s): Anna Duda
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Sociology
Published by: KSIĘGARNIA AKADEMICKA Sp. z o.o.
Keywords: Chernobyl Exclusive Zone (CEZ); Pripyat; postmemory; tourism of difficult heritage

Summary/Abstract: The goal of this article is to show how the memory of Chernobyl catastrophe is being reconstructed and later pass on by the guide with his narration. The example of Aleksander Sirota and his mother will show how big of a factor in constructing memory of a ‘second generation’ is played by post‑traumatic creation of a close person, as well as accumulated video recordings and photographies taken before the accident. Also, comperative approach of confronting photos with authentic ‘forgotten’ space of Pripyat city used by the tour guide will allow us to understand the level of influence in which visual aspect can affect reinterpretation of abandoned heritage. The same can be said of actual presence of a tourist in such environment and its effect on alteration of the memory of the event. The activity of Aleksander Sirota presented in this article will allow us to look at Chernobyl catastrophe through the lens of post‑memory discourse and will reveal how multilayered research issue it really is.

  • Issue Year: 14/2017
  • Issue No: 47
  • Page Range: 201-213
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: Polish