Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
University of Tehran
Abstract
Rapid urban development has led to significant transformations in physical environments, activities, and place experiences. As a result, the meaning and collective memory have also undergone transformations. Today, people increasingly use social media across various domains; and one of the uses of these social networks that has become more prevalent among users in recent years is the recording and sharing of past and present memories and experiences in different ways. The way individuals perceive a place and create collective memory has been profoundly influenced by the direct and indirect interactions between places and people through social media tools. However, there is limited research on the impact of popular social media tools such as Instagram on the urban context, particularly on collective memory regarding urban spaces. Even though there is significant discussion about the impact of new technologies on place, the evolving impact of information and communication technologies on the perception of place is evident today. However, the integration of these technologies into urban planning and design practices remains a topic of debate. Currently, there is a lack of knowledge about the impacts of social media on collective memories of places, which in some cases has led to the creation of less memorable and less meaningful places. This research, by adopting a qualitative content analysis method, aims to develop a theoretical framework by juxtaposing the concepts of Instagram social media and collective memories in urban spaces. This article is divided into two parts: analysis and synthesis. At first, a preliminary chart was formed to examine the one-to-one relationships between the main concepts of collective memory and social media. The final framework illustrates the significant impact of using Instagram narratives through a dual model of individual and place (physical environment, activity, and meaning) over the time process of interaction with a place on the process of memory representation. Ultimately, the results of this study suggest that research in this area can be refined within the framework of concepts such as collective memory and Instagram social media. The present research indicates that new opportunities for interaction with places are emerging due to the increasing use of digital social media, especially Instagram, necessitating research on the impact of these social media tools in the urban context. The proposed theoretical model is a step forward in understanding the role of Instagram narratives in representing collective memories. Urban design professionals can use this model in the context of urban spaces to enhance and preserve the collective memories of individuals. This framework can be utilized for approaches to reviving memories in urban spaces with historical identity, which, in addition to physical dimensions, focus on moving forward and integrating the psychological process of collective memory representation. Additionally, this model can clarify how individuals perceive their environment in the new internet era, which is highly valuable for urban actions. Since the ultimate goal of urban design is to create meaningful places, this model provides a valuable basis for integrating the increasing use of social media with urban actions.
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