Memorialization in Academe

Abstract

This study examines the extent to which the Memorial Attribute Model accounts for the memorials posted on the Communication Research and Theory Network (CRTNET). Results show that the model’s strength is its emphasis on the surrogacy function of memorials and the role that relationships between author and deceased play in illuminating the memorial content, length and author motivations. Colleagues are the most prolific authors of CRTNET memorials while ‘colleague and friend’ was the most frequent combination of author–deceased relationships indicated in the memorials. However, the model falls short of recognizing the prominence of expressing admiration and gratitude for the deceased above expression of grief, addressing unfinished business and treating the deceased as a social presence.

Keywords

Internet memorialization CRTNET communication discipline grief

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