Urban Design
Farshad Nourian; Sajedeh Nazarimajd
Abstract
HighlightsInstagram narratives reshape the production and reproduction of collective urban memories.The study integrates collective memory theory with social media–based urban research.A systematic literature review based on the PRISMA and TCCM frameworks was conducted.The proposed Urban Memory ...
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HighlightsInstagram narratives reshape the production and reproduction of collective urban memories.The study integrates collective memory theory with social media–based urban research.A systematic literature review based on the PRISMA and TCCM frameworks was conducted.The proposed Urban Memory Cycle model explains the temporal process of memory representation.The framework contributes to urban planning, urban design, and heritage management studies. Extended AbstractIntroductionUrban spaces are dynamic arenas in which collective memories are continuously formed and reproduced through interactions among physical environments, social activities, and everyday narratives. In recent years, social media platforms, particularly Instagram, have significantly transformed the ways urban experiences are documented, circulated, and remembered. Through geotagging, visual storytelling, and user-generated narratives, Instagram has become an influential medium for shaping citizens' perceptions of urban places and collective urban identities.Despite the growing body of literature on collective memory and social media data in urban studies, there is still no integrated conceptual framework capable of explaining the temporal process through which collective memories are represented through Instagram narratives. Most previous studies have either focused on the physical and historical dimensions of memory or emphasized quantitative analyses of social media data, while the relationship among temporal interaction, spatial experience, and digital representation has remained underexplored. Therefore, this study seeks to answer the following research question:What conceptual framework can explain the representation of collective memories in urban spaces based on Instagram narratives?Theoretical FrameworkThe theoretical foundation of this study lies at the intersection of collective memory studies, urban spatial theories, and social media research. Maurice Halbwachs defined collective memory as a socially constructed process shaped within spatial and cultural contexts. Urban spaces, particularly historic public spaces, preserve and reproduce collective memories through landmarks, monuments, and shared experiences. Scholars such as Aldo Rossi emphasized the role of urban artifacts in maintaining the identity and spirit of cities.At the same time, digital platforms have transformed the mechanisms of memory production and representation. Instagram creates a visual archive of urban experiences through geotagged photographs, hashtags, captions, and user interactions. However, many previous studies have primarily focused on quantitative analyses, such as spatial clustering and network structures, while the qualitative and temporal dimensions of memory representation have received comparatively less attention.To address this gap, the study adopts temporal interaction theory, which explains the relationship between users and places through three stages: pre-experience, experience, and reflection. Based on this perspective, the article develops the conceptual model of the Urban Memory Cycle, which connects these temporal stages with three dimensions: the physical environment, activity, and meaning.MethodologyThis study employs a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach to identify and synthesize the conceptual foundations related to collective memory, Instagram narratives, and urban representation. The review process was conducted using the PRISMA framework to ensure transparency and methodological rigor.Relevant studies were collected from Scopus, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate using Persian and English keywords, including collective memory, social media, Instagram, urban space, and city. English-language studies published between 2015 and 2024 were included, whereas Persian-language studies were considered without temporal limitation because of the limited number of relevant sources. Non-scientific materials and studies unrelated to urban environments were excluded.Initially, 121 records were identified. After removing duplicate and irrelevant sources through title, abstract, and full-text screening, 28 studies were selected for the final analysis. The selected studies were then analyzed through qualitative coding and organized using the TCCM framework, including Theory, Context, Characteristics, and Methods. This approach enabled the identification of dominant theoretical trends and methodological gaps necessary for constructing the final conceptual model.Results and DiscussionThe findings reveal that previous studies have extensively examined physical dimensions, such as landmarks, monuments, historic spaces, and urban symbols, as well as social activities and visual narratives associated with collective memory. However, the integration of temporal processes and mixed qualitative–quantitative approaches remain limited.The TCCM analysis demonstrated that collective memory studies mainly emphasize historic urban spaces and place identity, whereas Instagram-based urban studies often focus on geotagged data, spatial clustering, and user interaction patterns. Only a limited number of studies have examined how digital narratives influence the formation and reproduction of collective memories over time.In response to these gaps, this article proposes the Urban Memory Cycle model. The model integrates three dimensions—the physical environment, activity, and meaning—with three temporal stages: pre-experience, experience, and reflection. During the pre-experience stage, users form expectations about places through Instagram narratives and images. During the experience stage, individuals physically interact with urban spaces while simultaneously documenting their experiences through photographs and captions. During the reflection stage, users revisit and reproduce memories by sharing and reinterpreting digital narratives.The model explains how Instagram functions as a digital archive of collective memory and how urban experiences evolve from data to narrative and from narrative to memory.ConclusionThis study proposes a conceptual framework for understanding the representation of collective memories in urban spaces through Instagram narratives. By integrating collective memory theory, place attachment studies, and social media–based urban research, the article introduces the Urban Memory Cycle model, which explains the temporal relationship among physical space, social activity, and meaning-making processes.The findings indicate that, while previous studies have addressed the physical and narrative aspects of urban memory, limited attention has been paid to the temporal and process-oriented dimensions of memory reproduction in digital environments. The proposed framework contributes theoretically by bridging collective memory studies with data-driven urban research and contributes practically by providing a conceptual basis for urban planning, public space design, and heritage management.Future studies may empirically test the proposed model through case studies and comparative analyses across multiple social media platforms.AcknowledgmentThis article is derived from the Master’s thesis of the second author conducted at the School of Urban Planning, University of Tehran, under the supervision of the first author.
