Title: ΜΝΕΜΕ: Tangible and intangible expressions, the relationship with place identity and sustainable planning & development
Chair:
Assoc. Prof. Konstantinidou Elena
&
Em. Prof. Moraitis Konstantinos
School of Architecture
National Technical University, Greece
Abstract/Description:
In Greek mythology, Mneme /ˈniːmiː/ (Greek: Μνήμη, translit. Mnḗmē) was considered as one of the original Boeotian muses, and later, as one of the Nine Olympian Muses - the muse of memory.
The Greek language uses the word “Mneme” to refer to “memory”, one of the fundamental activities of human intellect. It is because of this fundamental conceptual importance that different disciplines attempt, from its own point of view each of them, to identify memory with specific functions or capacities of mind and to reduce it to the physical processes required in its performance. Thus, they conceive of memory as a “mechanism” that links sensation to intellect, as a key tool for the formation of universal concepts, or as an essential component of one's self-consciousness and identity, associating present condition with the past. We have already moved from the domain of the cerebral physiology to the realm of the cultural, historical, and political existence, and thus, to the central intention of the session proposed.
The planned session will attempt to highlight the correlations of MNEME (memory) with spatial reference; bringing in conduct tangible space references with intangible modes of expressions. It would moreover insist on the importance of the mnemonic function, for the formation of “place identity” and eventually with sustainable planning and development, culturally, historically, and thus politically sustainable place identity.
It is in this context that landscape could be described as the "field" for the projection of memory, while acquiring its “validity” in cultural or political terms, thanks to intangible elements of mnemonic importance, associated with specific historical characteristics, beliefs, and ideological premises of a given social group or a given society. Memory “needs” the place; place is important for memory to be projected on it. Places acquire identity not through their material substance solely, but also through intangible processes, conceptual schemes, imaginary and ideological formations, collective desires, and collective memories; through memories that do not concern the past solely but constitute its heritage; a living reality that changes, evolves, transforms, enriches, adapts, and is passed on to the next generations.
Thus, we could argue that the session proposed deals with the “emplacement” of memory, the relationship of collective memory with place, the way that it is recorded, and thus correlated with the identity of a place - as an important, determining factor for the formation of mnemonic structures.
In the context of the present socio-economic and political reality (political and economic crisis, population movements, refugees’ continuous flux from peripheral to central countries, etc.), the issue of memory, the cultural and political need for its careful management must be considered as crucial, as important for the safeguard of our probably disturbed, precious identity.
Keywords and Themes of possible reference:
- Monuments and landscapes of cultural and historical importance.
- Places of historical importance and places of tradition.
- Memory, and its correlation to tangible or intangible references.
- Urban-scapes of memory.
- Public urban places and the revitalization of cultural and political memory.
- Place networks and place palimpsests of mnemonic touring proposals.
- “Hybrid” mnemonic guidance in urban or non-urban places and landscape of mnemonic interest.
- Memory and the formation and promotion of place identity.
- Safeguard of memory and the concept of cultural, historical, and political sustainability.
- Economic centered “place branding” versus activation of cultural and political conscience – rediscussing the value of mnemonic place promotion.